Shortage of river materials hits construction projects

Nepalgunj, December 4

Lack of stones, boulders and sand has adversely affected construction work of small and big infrastructure projects in Banke.

River-borne materials are in short supply following Raptisonari Rural Municipality’s failure to award contract for construction materials even after five months of the current fiscal. Raptisonari Rural Municipality has a huge source of river-borne materials.

Raptisonari Rural Municipality had issued a tender for river-borne materials on August 27 for the first time this fiscal. The tender was issued again after both the contractors had bid the same amount of money, said rural municipality Chair Lahuram Tharu.

Tharu said that tender issuance could not be finalised as Chief Administrative Officer Birendra Bahadur Majhi was on leave.

Construction Entrepreneurs’ Union Banke Chair Tek Bahadur Khadka said that many construction projects were affected as contracts for river-borne materials were yet to be awarded. Khadka complained that shortage of river-borne materials had slowed down the work of Sikta Irrigation Project.

“Construction entrepreneurs have not been able complete the projects on time which has resulted in huge financial loss,” he said.

Banke residents say that not awarding contract for river-borne materials has led to illegal excavation and smuggling of the river-borne materials.

Banke District Coordination Committee Coordinator Ajay Shreewastab said that his office had received complaints of delayed tender contract.