KATHMANDU: The project work on garbage management, Bagmati beautification, its clean-up campaign and squatters’ settlement under the Bagmati River Improvement Project has slowed to a snail’s place.
The Ministry of Urban Development and Department of Urban Development and Building Construction failed to expedite its works as per the plan.
The Bagmati River Basin Improvement Project had four years ago initiated to build a recycling plant by acquiring 100 ropanis of land to the east of Guheshwari preventing sewage from mixing it into the Bagmati River. However, the waste recycling plant is yet to be completed.
On March 6, 2014, the government signed an agreement with the Asian World Bank (ADB) to enhance the environmental condition of the Bagmati River and its source. The deadline to complete the project was set for May 31, 2019, according to the agreement.
According to a report of the Office of Attorney General, the estimated cost for the completion of these works has been put at around 36 million US dollar – 25.5 million from the loan, 4.5 million through donation, and 6 million from Nepal government.
With the expiry of the deadline, only 32 percent of the work has been completed so far while the total expenses made is put at Rs 1 billion, 913 million and 200 thousand.
Bagmati clean-up project and corridor building under the High Powered Committee for the Integrated Development of the Bagmati Civilization has been delayed.
Sewage Management
Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) and High Powered Committee for the Integrated Development of the Bagmati Civilization had been assigned to manage the sewage of the Bagmati River and its tributaries as per the plan.
Of the total seven locations to construct the sewage management centers, including Gokarna, Guheshwari, Dhobighat, Tripureswor, Hanumanghat, Sallaghari and Balkumari, the construction work has begun only in four centers – Guheshwari, Dhobighat, Sallaghari, and Balkumari. Meanwhile, the design of the rest three centers has been sketched.
Beautification of Bagmati River
Under the Bagmati River Improvement Project, the track on both sides of the Bagmati River had to be completed by 31 January 2019 from Gokarna to Sinamangal as per the plan. However, only 55.54 percent of the work has been accomplished so far.
As per the design, the track on both sides of the river should be of 12 meters wide comprising a pavement, cycle lane, and green space. The Office of Attorney General has said the construction has not complied with the agreement.
Despite the plan to complete all the construction work by April 13, 2019, only 32 percent of work has been completed so far.
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