Shortage of explosives hampers road construction

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MANGALSEN, Achham, Nov 17 - The construction works of two major roads of this district have been hampered due to the shortage of explosives. Officials of the construction project,the 38 kms long Sanphe-Magalsen and 58-kms long Sanphe-Martadi roads, have been waiting for explosives for a long time. The Sanphe-Mangalsen connects district headquarters of Achham district and Sanphe-Martadi road links the district headquarters of Bajura district.

The construction of the two roads began eight years ago. However, both the roads remain incomplete due to insufficient fund. The remaining sections of the road were to be constructed with a loan from the World Bank (WB) under the Road Development and Maintenance Project. However, it is unsure whether the project will be completed in time because of the unavailability of explosive materials.

"We lack a secure place to store the explosives, " the project chief, Durga Prasad KC said.

A 19 km-section of the Sanphe-Martadi road has so far been constructed as a gravelled road. According to a survey conducted four years ago, it was estimated that it would cost around RS 425 million to complete the road. The WB has provided loan assistance of Rs 30 million for the construction of the road.

Out of the total 38 kms long Sanphe-Mangalsen road, a track of more than 23 kms has been constructed so far. The bank has provided a loan of Rs 22 million for the construction of the remaining section of the road.

A senior official of the project suspected that the loan sanctioned by the bank could be frozen unless work on the road began soon. Both the roads are to be completed within two years.

The project has repeatedly requested the Ministry of Defence and the National Planning Commission to supply necessary explosives. The official said at least eight tons of explosives were required to clear the rocks littering the roads.

A Member of Parliament from Achham, Govinda Bahadur Shah, said that sufficient budget had not been allocated for these roads in the past. Shah said without bridges over the Budhi Ganga and Kailas Khola, the district headquarters would remain cut off from road transport.

Controversial terrace to be demolished

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KATHMANDU, Nov 17 - The owners of the restaurant in the government building on the southern edges of historic Rani Pokhari have agreed to demolish the controversial terrace built over the statue of Pratap Malla.

"We have to listen to the public voice. We are ready to demolish the terrace we built last January if it really hampers the aesthetic look of the pond," manager of Tasty Cafe said Friday, adding the structures would be demolished soon after he receives an official letter to that effect from the concerned authorities.

KMC has verbally asked to pull down the part - mainly the terrace - of the restaurant after newspapers here carried newsreports about the on-going construction works on the edges of the 17th century pond constructed by Pratap Malla, the Malla king of then Kathmandu.

Still, the restaurant officials are not sure as to who will give them compensations for demolition of the construction which, they claimed, was made after the government gave a go-ahead. "We would not have constructed the terrace (over the statue), had the authorities warned us in time," the manager said.

He also demanded that municipal authorities work towards demolishing all the illegal constructions around the pond. "Then only KMC’s plan to pull down our terrace is justified," he said.