Locals of Bardibas Municipality invite representatives to breathe in road dust cloud on Tihar occasion

Bardibas, Mahottari – The locals of Bardibas Municipality in Mahottari have symbolically invited their representatives to breathe in a cloud of dust and feel the problems they are facing due to the damaged Bardibas-Jaleshwor road. 

The initiative coincides with the Tihar festival when Hindu sisters invite their brothers to offer bhai tika on Bhai Tika, the last and most important day of the festival. 

The locals gathered at their convenient chowks and protested the failure to repair the road that is filled with potholes and cracks at many places. "We are inhaling a cloud of dust every day. But, ministers and any government offices are ignorant of it. So we have opted for this measure to press the government to repair the road," said a local resident Dip Maya Shrestha. 

Built in 2048 B.S, the 42 kilometers road has not been repaired so far, affecting the locals of Aaurahi, Ramgopalpur, Manarashishawa and Jaleshwor in particular. "The road has now turned into potholes. We are becoming affected by a large dust cloud generated by hundreds of vehicles plying on a daily basis," said another local Gayatri Upadhyay. 

"The area has got elected people representatives including Minister for Education, Science and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel, National Assembly Vice Chairperson Shashi Kala Dhal and Province Assembly member Sharadha Thapa. But the road has never been repaired," said Mina Paudel, an undergraduate student at Janata Multiple Campus, Bardibas. 

The dusts stemming from the road have affected health of the people, said a health worker Shyam Narayan Lal. 
When asked, Mayor of the municipality Bidur Kumar Karki said he was aware of the damaged road, and talks were underway with the minister and the Road Division Office, Janakpur to repair the road. 
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