JAJARKOT, Oct 10: Locals of Bheri Municipality have vented their ire against the government authorities for not making efforts to resume traffic movement along the new road section at Thatibazaar that was obstructed after a massive landslide one and a half months ago.
The locals have expressed their disappointment towards the newly-elected representatives and other government officials for turning a blind eye to the difficulties of the people due to the obstruction of the road. “All the representatives go past this road at least once a day. They are aware of the pathetic condition of the road but still they do nothing about it,” said Bhim Bahadur Budha, a local. The locals are so frustrated that they say all the promises and vows made by the parties and representatives were just meant for the elections.
Haphazard road construction and repair in towns and villages
Budha further said that there are hundreds of potholes on the roads of Kalegaun, Rawatgaun, Pipe, Rimna, Risang Bahaunthan, Rangsi, Nauli, Paanchkatiya, among others. Keshav Jung Shah, a civil society leader, shared that the locals traveling or walking through the roads are obliged to face difficulties every day. “Even after such a long time, no government authority has shown any concern about the condition of the road and the misery of the locals,” he laments.
Flood triggered landslide which struck the road section on August 26 halted the transportation along the road section connecting Khalanga, Nepalgunj, Surkhet and Kathmandu. The locals have accused the Department of Road and the municipality of negligence. Man Bahadur Rawal, Chief of District Coordination Committee (DCC), Jajarkot informed Republica that the municipality has formed a consumers committee with the participation of locals for solving such problems. However, it has not been able to resume the transportation, he added.
Bhawana Bhandari, deputy mayor of Bheri Municipality blames the local consumers for the delay in the repair of roads. She also accuses the road department for the negligence. Even though the government has already sanctioned budget for the repair, various stakeholders refuse to co-operate, she laments.
Commuters have complained time and again that they are tired of taking alternative routes which are long and difficult.
