TANSEN: Construction of a cold storage at Tansen Municipality-7 in Palpa district has been left in limbo, thanks to sheer negligence of the contractor.
The construction works had started 10 years ago with two years’ term, but it has witnessed just 27 percent progress till date. According to the municipality, 33 feet in height, 26 meters in length and 14 meters in width, the project with capacity of storing 2,000 tons of seeds, agricultural products and fruits aims to provide service to farmers of Palpa, Gulmi, Argakhanchi, Syangja and Parbat districts.
The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu provided financial assistances for the project.
The construction companies, Himdung & Thokar and Jaya Raktakali JB, had won the contract on 6 March, 2013 at over Rs 49 million with the completion deadline being 6 June, 2014.
“Negligence of the construction companies has caused a delay. Completion deadline has been extended five times. Now, they have applied for the deadline extension once again. We are not assured that the project will be completed,” said technician Tikaram Somai, who works for the municipality.
The companies have received a payment of over Rs 20 million so far. Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy has inspected the cold storage. Second secretary at the embassy, Prashant Sona has asked the resumption of the project, according to municipality’s information officer, Bharat Acharya.
The municipality has written to the construction companies to pay Rs 4.8 million in fine for not completing the project within the deadline.
Now, the municipality is in favor of completing the project even by awarding the contract to a new construction company. “The project is linked with the pride of Tansen Municipality. We will complete the project even by awarding the contract to a new company. Palpa is a fertile land for agriculture. Farmers here grow orange, ‘akabare khursani’ and ginger, and draw thousands of rupees in incomes,” said the municipality’s spokesperson Yadav Singh Karki.
RSS
Comment