The ongoing construction of the Mid-Hill Highway in the district is at snail pace owing to the negligence of contractors and locals’ obstructions.

Though the government started the construction works in fiscal year 2007/2008 in the district, even the preliminary tracks have not yet been opened.

Project officials based in Dang said seven construction companies working in Dailekh section—Surya and Sons, Khani, Pushpanjali JV, Dhulikhel, Kankai, Kabir Thapa JV and Rautaha Constructions—are out of contact for the past three years.

They said they even asked the contractors through newspaper notices to resume works.

Project Engineer Shekhar Yogi said the companies will black-listed and their bank guarantees will be frozen if they do not complete their work within the allocated time. Yogi said the project, as per the existing agreement, should be completed within December.

Jagabir Sah, a project engineer working in Dailekh, said the work in the district is too slow in comparison to other areas due to obstruction of locals and carelessness of the contractors.

The construction works cannot be run smoothly if locals’ hindrances continue. Disputes surfaced particularly in the Manghar-Jajarkot section and in eastern Jaganath. Similar disputes have hindered works at Lohore-Chupra-Rawatkot and district headquarters sections.

The disputes ensued after local residents refused to provide their land saying that the compensation was too little.

Meanwhile, engineer Sah said contractors’ work at some section is found to have been of sub-standard quality. Chief District Officer Pitambar Ghimire said many people come to the District Administration Office with complaints regarding the road works. “There should be a mechanism to inspect the ongoing work,” he said.