The under-construction building, which has the technology to warm the room even in cold weather, has been lying idle for years, and the stay of tourists coming here is often inconvenient.
What you should know
In Khaptad, the main tourist destination of the Far West, the building under construction since 6 years ago has not yet been put into use. On the other hand, due to the lack of convenient accommodation, tourists who have visited Khaptad, known as 'Bhuswarga', return with the bitter experience of an unorganized stay.
80 beds to be built near the main barracks of Khaptad National Park and 8 buildings with a capacity of 20 beds to be built in Bichpani for tourists coming and going through the Doti road have been lying idle for 6 years.
The contract process for the construction of a building that can comfortably accommodate 150 tourists started in 2076. Out of the amount of 5 million allocated by the Nepal Tourism Board for the construction of the building in 2075/076, a contract was signed with TDR&BG JV Company for 40 million 13 million excluding value added tax. Khaptad National Park had given approval to the said company to complete the work within 7 months based on prefab technology. Since then, the company prepared the structures of the building only in 2081 after extending the deadline 5 times.
Even though the building structure was built, the park office broke the contract after the water supply connection, gherbar, wood flooring (work of wood printing inside the room), light connection etc. were not done according to the terms of the contract. To do the rest of the work, in November last year, Gajendra Nirman Seva was awarded the contract for the building in Khaptad and Netreshwari Nirman Seva for the building in Bichpani.
'The work of Bichpani is almost finished. Even in the building of Khaptad, the gherbar work is being completed and the flooring is being done," Ranger Parasuram Kathayat of Khaptad National Park said, "The park is trying to complete the work as soon as possible and bring the buildings into use."
He said that even though the construction work of the building has been completed, it will take time to put it into use because it is not clear how to manage it. "There is also a discussion about making a procedure for which modality to operate. There are preparations to operate the building of Bichpani, if not two, within this year,' he said.
Deepak Bahadur Khadka, who is running a homestay in Zhigrana, Doti, said that the under-construction building, which has the technology to warm the room even in a cold environment, has been standing idle for years. "When many people come, there is no place to sleep, but up to 10/15 people have to sleep in one room. In winter, the situation is difficult because of the cold," he said, "In six years, 6/7 wardens in Khaptad National Park have completed their tenure, but the building was not built on time. Even if the warden comes, they do not pay attention to building the building. When they are transferred, they extend their exemption period. It is difficult to understand what is going on inside.'
Khaptad Region Tourism Development and Management Committee Executive Director Khem Joshi said that if these buildings are put into use quickly, the complaints of tourists will be removed and the arrivals in Khaptad will increase and the stay will be longer. "The fact that such investment structures are not in use has sent a bad message not only to tourists, but also to the tourism promotion of Khaptad area," he said, "those responsible for creating this situation should be taken into action and these buildings should be put into use as soon as possible."
The intensive urban and building construction project is currently working at a fast pace and claims that the construction quality is being monitored. The previous contractor also delayed the work. It has taken so much time because it was left unfinished at the end,' said Tilak Vick, engineer of the project office, 'Now the work is going on fast. Everything will be completed before Dasain.' He said that after the construction is completed, it may take time to make a procedure for how to use the building, so it may not be used immediately.
