National
Mahakali project in pits as crews extract stones
The embankment construction under the Mahakali Irrigation Project along Khanya Khola area is at risk after the contracting company haphazardly extracted stones and pebbles from the area on the pretext of carrying out construction work in Kanchanpur.Bhawani Bhatta
The embankment construction under the Mahakali Irrigation Project along Khanya Khola area is at risk after the contracting company haphazardly extracted stones and pebbles from the area on the pretext of carrying out construction work in Kanchanpur.
The embankment is still being constructed in Khanya Khola under the Third Phase of the project.
Up to now, around 60 percent of work is done. “The contractor has dug many pits on the banks. Stones and pebbles are being extracted near the bridge area,” said Senior Divisional Engineer Bir Singh Dhami.
The District Forest Office (DFO) has given permission to extract construction materials from the stream area. “We restricted them to extract gravel from the forest area. However the contractor has been extracting the construction materials after performing the Environmental Assessment (EA),” said District Forest Officer Shiva Prasad Sharma.
Villagers say the contractor transports sand and gravel to other areas.
“We have not invited any tender to extract aggregates from that area,” said Tek Bahadur Chand, an official at the District Coordination Committee (DCC).
According to the DCC, the Cabinet had granted permission the contruction company to extract construction materials for the construction of embankment in Khanya Khola and Mahakali Irrigation Project. The embankment is being constructed on the stream to conserve the base area of the Mahakali Irrigation Project.
Joshi Nirman Sewa has been transporting gravel on tippers from Khanya Khola area. Ganesh Joshi of Joshi Nirman Sewa said they would fill up the holes near the embankment. “We are unable to complete the construction works on time due to shortage of construction materials,” he said. The deadline of the embankment construction was May 24.