DHANGADHI: Though it has been four years since the school construction projects began in agreement with District Technical Office, Doti, the construction remains unfinished. The projects began with initiatives of the then Village Development Committees; however, lack of budget and implementation of federal structure have left the projects in limbo.

Construction of a two-room-structure in Jhimemalika Secondary School at KI Singh Rural Municipality-4, Doti began in 2014. At present, even the school administration is muddled over project completion.

Likewise, four years have passed since the construction of a two-room-structure began in Sarada Secondary in Sikhar Municiapality-5. Apart from foundation laying and uplifting pillars, the works have failed to gain momentum. Moreover, the school administration lacks official information on authorities overseeing the construction.

In this backdrop, locals have started to raise suspicions over completion of the under-construction school buildings in various areas of the district.

“We receive budgets in small installments which disrupts the flow of work,” Nanda Ram Pun, principal at Jhimemalika Secondary said. “The Rural Municipality and District Technical Office have said that budget has not been disbursed for construction this time around.”

On the contrary, the principal of Sarada Secondary School, Lokendra Nayak has no idea on authorities overseeing the project. According to Nayak, he has only heard about consumer committee under the then VDC undertaking the construction works. “I have no objective information on the authorities responsible and budget allocated for the construction,” Nayak said.

Likewise, the DTO is also uncertain over the fate of the under-construction buildings.

“Few projects are under Peace Ministry and few are under Reconstruction Authority,” Sub-engineer at DTO, Lok Khadka said, “we are unaware on the modalities of budget disbursement.”