KATHMANDU, June 4: Following instruction from the government to take action against construction companies defaulting on their work, District Administration Offices across the country are acting tough against them. The district authorities have been sending names and details of such companies to the federal government.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is studying the recommendations made by the DAOs before taking action against those companies dilly-dallying to complete the given tasks.
As part of its preparations to book the defiant construction companies, District Administrative Office of Siraha has sent a list of contractors who have not completed their works within the deadline to the Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday.
Chief District Officer Rudra Prasad Pandit confirmed that the details of the companies not completing the given tasks within the given timeframe have been sent to the MoHA for action.
According to the District Administration Office, companies in the list include Yogim Ivanshu Isha Simleswor Joint Venture (JV) of Kavreshali, Kathmandu, Ma Janaki Construction Service, Waiba and Lama Construction, Ambar Khatri Rautaha Construction Pvt Ltd, and Rayamajhi Nepal Pragati Lokbir and Betali JV of Buddhanagar.
“I have ordered the Area Police Office to summon the contractors in the list,” CDO Pandit said, “In the presence of concerned authorities we will try to understand why the works were not completed on time.”
16 construction firms to face action in Sindhuli
In Sindhuli, District Administration Office has recommended the government to take action against 16 construction companies for their delay in completing the projects.
DAO officials said recommendation was forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs suggesting action against the companies citing the concerned companies’ failure to complete the works within the given deadline. The companies constructing 19 different projects in two municipalities and seven rural municipalities have been delaying construction works under various pretexts.
The companies recommended for action include KS Deviraman JV, Biji Construction Service, Atreya Construction Service P Ltd, Subham Nirman Sewa, Dhulikhel Shibhambhu/Kunwar JV, Shikhar Nirman Sewa, Siddhababa Atreya Nawayug JV, Swachchha Nirman Sewa, Kathmandu, Pappu Lumbini JV and Gauri/Nilgiri National JV. Similarly, action has been recommended also against Pappu Nepal Pragati JV, Sub Uddhar Sagarmatha JV, Sunaulo Khimti Construction, Biruwa Construction P Ltd and Kankai/Thapa JV.
Govt’s inaction further encouraged defaulter contractors in Dhangadhi
Many developmental works in Dhangadhi are long overdue as dishonest contractors have not cared to honor their contracts. The government’s weakness in monitoring and failure to take action against shoddy works of contractors have been severely affecting the development projects.
Many such projects have already missed the work deadlines at least twice, thrice or even more.
However, contractors are not the only ones to be blamed for the delay. Government offices, departments and ministries that awarded contracts are equally at fault, according to stakeholders.
The government actually rewards underperformance by extending deadlines multiple times. Contractors having political nexus have been bribing government officials in power for deadline extension and to overlook quality.
(Mithilesh Yadav from Siraha, Anil Bhandari from Sindhuli and Dil Bahadur Chhatyal from Dhangadhi contributed to this report)