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Roiled waters sweep funds
KATHMANDU, AUG 19 -
The government is planning to construct 400 new bridges at the expense of 50 bridges that are in need of urgent repair.
‘Influential’ leaders of various political parties have exerted tremendous pressure on the Department of Roads (DoR) under the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works for the construction of 400 new bridges worth around Rs. 16 billion in their respective districts.
Requesting anonymity, a high-level DoR source said though the government has not yet come up with the full-fledged budget, political leaders have started exerting pressure to include the construction of new bridges in the annual programmes of the department.
The government has planned to allocate Rs. 23 billion to MoPPW for the next fiscal year, as sought by the National Planning Commission (NPC). Interestingly, of the total proposed budget, the DoR has proposed a budget of Rs. 4 billion for the construction of new bridges, and for repair of old ones. Of the total proposals for new bridges, more than half are concentrated in Tarai districts, according to the source.
The proposals for the construction of around 200 bridges are forwarded by political leaders, including ministers and lawmakers from the Tarai, the source added. For instance, Minister for Physical Planning and Works Bijay Kumar Gachhadar has demanded inclusion of a proposal for the construction of 25 bridges in Sunsari alone.
The DoR data shows that more than 200 bridges are already listed in the NPC’ Red Book for construction this year and the department already needs around Rs. 13 billion to execute the projects listed in the government’s plan for this year.
Officials said the government allocates not more than Rs. 2 billion in a year for new bridges while it takes around Rs. 4 billion to complete projects listed in the government’s plan. “Though the construction of new bridges joining the Strategic Road Network, regional roads and district roads are placed on top priority, undue political pressure has affected our work,” the source added.
“Even as the transportation in over 50 places along highways and sub-highways has been affected due to lack of bridges, leaders are working only for their districts,” the source added.
Posted on: 2010-08-20 08:07
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