Koshi Province Government Allocates Record Budget for Development Projects in Khotang

Biratnagar. The Koshi Province government allocated a record-breaking budget for Khotang district for the current fiscal year 2082/83. Taking advantage of Congress leader Bhupendra Rai, elected from the district, serving as the Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development, 159 development projects worth approximately 1 billion 94 lakh 75 thousand rupees were included in the Red Book for Khotang out of the total capital budget of around 10 billion.

Former Minister Rai expressed frustration on Saturday toward contractors, noting that work on 26 projects had not yet begun despite contract agreements. "It appears the state has rarely prioritized a hilly and underdeveloped region like our district, Khotang. In such challenging circumstances, the plans and budget allocated for the district must be fully implemented," he wrote. "Families might survive on love, kindness, and greed, but a country will not build or function that way. We have taken an oath to make our country prosperous, not just our families. Therefore, the work must be completed, and the budget must be fully utilized."

According to data from the Infrastructure Development Office in Khotang, out of the 159 total projects, the agreement process for 132 has been completed, and 123 projects are currently in various stages of construction. However, Vinam Dahal, head of the Infrastructure Development Office, Khotang, notes that despite the approval of a large budget and numerous plans, not all projects have progressed as expected due to technical and practical complexities. Specifically, 8 projects worth 24 million rupees are completely stalled due to land disputes and project duplication.

Additionally, the office stated that 17 projects with minimal budget allocations have been recommended to the ministry for source approval to be advanced as multi-year projects.

The budget has been distributed across all 10 local levels of the district. This includes 39 projects worth 317.6 million rupees in Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality, 10 projects worth 54 million rupees in Halesi Tuwachung, 14 projects worth 66 million rupees in Barahapokhari, and projects worth 135 million rupees in Diprung Chuichumma. Similarly, projects are underway in Jantedhunga (89.5 million), Khotehang (159.1 million), Rawabesi (55 million), Sakela (31.5 million), Kepilasgadhi (48.5 million), and Aiselukharka (24 million).

Office head Vinam Dahal also attributed the delays in some projects to the negligence of contractors. Stating that strict instructions have been given to expedite the work, he said, "We wrote letters to the construction companies urging them to complete all work in time before the monsoon. These letters were written last Thursday and Friday. Some work has not even started, and in others, there is a delay. The delay is due to the contractors themselves. There is no other dispute."

According to him, while many road, bridge, building, and maintenance projects in the district have reached 80 percent physical progress, the negligence of some contractors has hindered overall progress. The office completed 15 projects by Chaitra 20, and the deadline for most projects is set between Chaitra and Ashar 15.

Dahal mentioned that although priority has been given to the Udaipur-Gaighat-Diktel road section, various concrete bridges, and building construction projects, the Infrastructure Development Office is under immense pressure to complete all work before the onset of the monsoon.

As the monsoon approaches, the deadlines for many projects are the end of Chaitra, Baisakh, and Jestha. Some major projects have deadlines until Ashar 15. However, former Minister Rai stated that the fact that 26 projects have not even started increases the risk of the budget freezing and the district's development falling behind.

Among the multi-year and pride projects, the office has completed the construction of the 148-meter-long Buwa Khola bridge under the Chisopani-Devisthan-Maintar-Pauwasera road. The final deadline for the performance of multi-year projects contracted this year is the end of 2084.

Significant high-budget projects include the Udaipur-Gaighat-Rasuwa Ghat-Pandhare road, the Tap Khola road bridge (the road connecting Diktel Majhuwagadhi Municipality Patekha Tap Khola to Shanibere Khartanchha Kepilasgadhi), the Ruwa Phedi Buwa Khola concrete bridge in Jantedhunga-1 Devisthan, and the blacktopping of the road from Khanidanda Airport to Yamkha Ratmata via the Diprung Chuichumma Rural Municipality office to Panchami Bazaar, as well as the Locha Khola motorable bridge connecting Kubhinde Haichur.

Annual projects to be completed by the Infrastructure Development Office in the current fiscal year include road track opening, road upgrading, road gravelling, road blacktopping, concrete bridges, suspension bridges, government and community buildings, the People's Housing Program, and road and building maintenance. Office head Dahal stated that more than 60 houses are also being built at a cost of approximately 20 million rupees under the Koshi Province People's Housing Program for poor and disadvantaged families.