Lack of explosives halts bridge construction

By Basanta Parajuli,Bharatpur, Apr. 11: A bridge construction work along the Narayangadh-Mugling road has been halted for lack of the explosives required to break some tough terrain. 

As the procurement process got mired in delays, there has not been explosive  to break a rocky mountain to begin the construction of a bridge over the Tuin River along the road. 

According to officials, they need to blast one rocky mountain to begin the construction work but lack the much-needed explosives. 

Delayed procurement of the explosives has hampered the construction of the bridge, said information officer Krishna Acharya of Narayangadh-Mugling Road project. 

After the project officials failed to cut the rocky mountain with the help of machines alone, they are in need of explosives to clear the obstruction, said Acharya. 

There is a provision that blasting in any project can be done only with the approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Defence upon the recommendation of the security committee of the district where the project is in progress. 

Even if the Defence Ministry gives approval for the import of the explosives, permission of the Nepali Army (NA) is compulsory. 

There is a system for importing, transporting, storing and detonating explosives under the direct supervision of the NA. 

Moreover, no one knows where the file containing the documents seeking permission to import explosives from India has reached.

According to Acharya, despite the request from the district six months ago, the file has remained been stuck in the ministries.

"I think the file has now gone to the Ministry of Defence and is stuck there," he said. 

It is said that at least six to seven tonnes of gunpowder is needed to blow the 11-metre-high, 40-metre-wide rock standing next to the Tuin River.

However, Defence Ministry’s Joint Secretary Yagya Prasad Dhungana said that they had sent the file back to the Ministry of Home.

"Soon after taking the opinion of the Nepali Army, we sent a letter to the Home Ministry for permission," Dhungana said.

Home Ministry Secretary Binod Prakash Singh, however, said that the file had not arrived at the Home Ministry.

With the financial assistance of Rs. 1.27 billion from the World Bank, 15 bridges are currently being constructed along the road. A contract agreement for this was signed on March 23, 2020. Of them, construction of 11 bridges have been completed and are in the process of being handed over. 

Compensation within May

The houses constructed within the boundaries of the Narayangadh-Mugling road will be compensated within new year of Nepali calendar. The meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 14, 2023 decided to earmark the budget for the compensation, allocating Rs.10 million for the compensation of 25 houses within the road boundary.