There has been a serious problem of coordination between the various government agencies which need to work together in harmony to speed up the entire work

The road expansion drive of the government in the Kathmandu Valley was well received when it was started a couple of years ago. To pave the way for expansion, the buildings on the sides of the roads had to be demolished or partially knocked down. All this has been done on most of the roads coming under the expansion project. The expansion scheme was not a new scheme but an old one for which the government of the time mustered courage to go ahead despite strong protests from various quarters. But along with the demolition of the old structures to make the roads wider, there was naturally a general assumption that the expanded road area would be reconstructed soon enough so that the public would not have to go through great inconveniences for longer periods. But what has happened had been feared at the time when the expansion drive started going by the government’s records of not meeting deadlines on such projects. On almost every section of the road dug up for such purposes, the reconstruction has taken too long a time. For example, the Maitidevi-Dillibazar section of the road has almost taken two years to show signs of reconstruction as well as of the resumption of vehicular traffic.

This has made it extremely inconvenient for people to travel, with clouds of dust swirling around in the dry season, with pools of mud and dirty water making the task of traversing such roads a balancing act requiring a high skill in the rainy season. The daily schedules of the general people have become somewhat different because of the longer time taken to travel and the difficulty involved in it, caused by the unsuitable condition of the roads for vehicular traffic. Besides, the clouds of dust are reported to have contributed to an increase in certain types of illness such as respiratory problems.  The officials concerned have for long been ready with excuses, sometimes blaming the contractors, sometimes assuring the public that reconstruction will be speeded up, and sometimes blaming the April 25 major earthquake and its aftershocks, and so on.

In the fiscal year 2014-15, too, the government failed to meet its road expansion and repair projects in the Kathmandu Valley. Only about 50 per cent of the target is reported to have been met, 46 km against the target of 87 km. As a result, several road sections dug up for expansion or pipe-laying are still in a bad shape. On many of the sections, even the relocating of the telephone and power poles, which was made necessary by the expansion, has to be completed yet. Therefore, there has also been a serious problem of coordination between the various government agencies which need to work together in harmony to speed up the entire work of demolition, expansion, and reconstruction. Further reasons for the delays cited by officials concerned for poor performance include the non-cooperation of local residents, procedural hassles and negligence of the contractors. In addition, the Melamchi Drinking Water Project has been able to lay only 282 km of pipeline out of the total of 800 km required. But such reasons have been routinely given by officials to cover up their non-performance since planned development started in the country.

Dog’s world

Dogs are regarded as man’s best friends. Dog lovers from all over the world observed the World Dog Lover’s Day Saturday. Nepal too marked the day with the Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre and Humane Society organizing a free health check-up for dogs kept as pets and also stray dogs. The companionship that dogs provides to their owners is perhaps one of the reasons why many people adore them. We should also take into consideration that this world belongs not only to humans but animals too. Therefore, the cruelty being meted out to the dogs should be condemned and the abusers should be punished in the harshest possible manner.

Moreover, the Asian dog meat trade is continuing despite condemnations from various quarters. Those who have dogs as pets and also love and are attached to them and other dog lovers as well are strongly opposed to dog meat trade and despite stiff protests the dog meat trade is going on. Dog lovers throughout the world salute the dogs also known for their loyalty to their masters come what may.