KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 17
Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Prakash Jwala, has stated that the Indian Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) has been causing obstructions in the blacktopping of the Postal Highway (Hulaki Rajmarga) in the far west of Nepal.
During a meeting of the Delegated Management and Government Assurance Committee of the National Assembly (NA) today, the Minister discussed challenges in completing the project due to the non-cooperation from the SSB. According to him, blacktopping has been hampered in the Belauri-Pachui area in Kanchanpur.
Minister Jwala mentioned issues related to border disputes in the given area, and despite various initiatives from the official channel to ease the situation for the highway construction, no results have been achieved. The Postal Highway is being developed by connecting 21 districts in the Terai from east to west.
The Committee, a few days back, visited the area, and the Minister was summoned to the meeting today to provide information about government efforts towards project implementation.
According to the Minister, the Foreign Ministry has been requested to facilitate in this matter. He also called for efforts from authorities concerned to address the issue.
Postal Highway Directorate Director Ajay Kumar Mul briefed the meeting that 60 kilometers in Kanchanpur has been divided into three clusters (each cluster measuring 20 kilometers), and the blacktopping is underway. Border disputes have hampered the works along a 1,400-meter section of the Belauri Pachui-Khapati River area.
As he stated, there were no issues during the preparations for the blacktopping. The SSB intervened while graveling works were about to start for the blacktopping, citing that the area lies in no man's land. The Survey Office and Department were also apprised of this development by the road project.
According to the project, diplomatic initiation is necessary to sort out the issue. The exact location of Pillar number 38 should be identified. As Mul mentioned, they are waiting for substantive direction from the government to proceed with the project implementation. However, the second cluster incorporating the Belauri-Pachai-Khapati River reports 80 percent physical progress.
Similarly, the project faces issues in the implementation of the third cluster, a 15-kilometer stretch, as the area lies along the Shuklaphanta National Park area.
The collection of construction materials and the construction works are to be restricted to daylight, and it is challenging to transport construction equipment to the site as well.
Though Rs 4.5 billion budget was ensured initially for the project, it is estimated to require around Rs 10 billion.
