9-km road made in 10 yrs takes Rukum folks nowhere
11 out of 43 VDCs in the district are yet to be connected with road links.
RUKUM: In what puts forth a yet another picture of sluggish development of the nation, an ongoing road construction project in Rukum has witnessed the chalking out of only 9km road-section in last ten years. Going by the pace, the 35-km road project could take more than three decades for its completion.
The Shitalpokhari-Bhulkhet-Chunwang road project started 10 years ago. The agricultural road project was initially said to be completed in three years. However, at the hands of the apathy of concerned authorities, the estimated three years got extended by more than three times, and all that the locals have in the name of project is an outline of 9-km road section.
According to the District Development Committee (DDC), it was the first road construction project in the district that aimed to connect Chungwang to the district headquarters Musikot.
Locals of Chungwang and adjacent villages said their journey to the headquarters have been tough due to the delay in project. "If this track is cleared, people from western part of Rolpa will also be benefited," said Jeevan KC from Chaukhawang village."But the government's unwillingness to supply budget has kept us in trouble."
KC also informed that portions of the constructed road track projects were blocked at many places due to rain and landslides.
The District Technical Office under the DDC said that the project has already seen an expenditure of Rs 15 million. Engineer Pahal Pun said the DDC recently signed an agreement to construct next 18 kilometer in the second phase. "Perhaps, it will take some more years to complete for we have insufficient budget," added Pun.
11 out of 43 VDCs in the district are yet to be connected with road links. -THT
प्रकाशित मिति:
June 04, 2014
