The rural municipality had allocated a total budget of Rs. 559 million for the current fiscal year.
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As the 10th month of the current fiscal year approaches, capital expenditure in Chaubise Rural Municipality of Dhankuta has been very low.
The rural municipality has stated that only 13 percent of the capital budget allocated for the current fiscal year has been spent so far.
The rural municipality had allocated a total budget of Rs 559 million for the current fiscal year. Of that, 59 percent of the current budget has been spent, but only 13 percent of the Rs 163.595 million allocated for capital has been spent so far, informed Babunandan Mehta, the rural municipality's chief administrative officer.
According to him, the physical progress has been disappointing because the contractor companies have not worked as per the agreement. He said that despite repeated instructions to the construction entrepreneurs to complete the work quickly, the work has not been done as expected. 'Construction entrepreneurs who got the contract by bidding low are reluctant to work after the prices of fuel and other materials have increased,' Mehta said. 'Even now, if they work regularly, the projects can be completed.'
He warned that if the work is not completed within the stipulated time, the conditional grant amount received from the federal government may be returned. However, he said that even if the conditional budget is returned, the work can be continued next year from the internal resources of the rural municipality.
Following the directives of the federal government, the rural municipality had adopted a policy of operating projects costing more than one million rupees through the contract process. Accordingly, although 14 annual projects with an estimated cost of about 79.57 million rupees have been operated through contract agreements, not a single project has been completed so far.
According to the rural municipality, the physical progress of projects including Rajarani-Atharasay-Kurule road upgrading, Rajarani-Maunabudhuk-Bodhe-Hanshmorang road upgrading, Thadagaun-Korna-Saure-Mudhebas large-scale drinking water project, Jaruwakhola-Pauwa agricultural road upgrading, Panwala-Surungi-Barbote road, Kangra Lake management and beautification, construction of a crossroads playground and a multi-purpose cemetery is low.
Similarly, the work of Sadamtar drinking water management, construction of Lavdanda Mundum Park, Kurule Secondary School compound fencing, Surungi playground management and construction of Yubahangsam Manghim Temple is also not satisfactory, said Chief Administrative Officer Mehta.
Construction entrepreneurs, on the other hand, have said that it is difficult to work as per the agreement due to the unnatural increase in fuel prices. Hark Chemjong, the director of Chaubise Construction, pledged to complete the work even if it takes more time. 'The government could not provide relief to construction entrepreneurs when the price increase created a problem,' Chemjong said, 'We will complete the contracted work even if it means selling our houses, but we need more time.'
He said that the unexpected increase in the price of diesel has put construction entrepreneurs in a big problem. 'When the price of diesel is Rs 156 per liter, how will we complete the contracted work when it has now reached Rs 226?' He asked, 'Still, we are planning to complete the work within the deadline.'
Chaubise Construction has stated that it has taken responsibility for the upgrading of four roads within the rural municipality alone.
Since then, the rural municipality has stated that the progress of the projects implemented through the consumer committee has been encouraging. Out of 124 projects implemented through the consumer committee, 66 projects have been completed. According to Chief Administrative Officer Mehta, the implementation of the projects implemented through the consumer committee has been relatively effective.
