Damauli, December 16

The blockade at border points and the protracted Tarai agitation have halted reconstruction work of community schools destroyed by the deadly quake of April 25.

Tanahun District Education Officer Top Bahadur Shrestha said shortage of construction materials caused by the blockade had disrupted the reconstruction of destroyed schools.

“The construction of school buildings might be delayed by two months if the supply of construction materials does not ease immediately,” DEO Shrestha added.

Head teachers in these schools said it was not possible to expedite reconstruction work due to difficulty in the supply of materials. Sub-engineer Shambhu Paudel at DEO said that Rs 29 crore was allocated for the reconstruction of schools in Tanahun.

He said budget had been appropriated for schools that had suffered damage due to the deadly tremor.

Assistant DEO Baburam Devkota said delay in the reconstruction work had put students in trouble as they were attending classes in makeshift tents during winter.