Construction of Highway in Koshi faces snag

By Hari Prasad Koirala,Urlabari, Jan. 23: The tree removal work on the Dharan-Kerabari-Letang-Madhumalla-Beldangi road section Shantinagar-Patapur and Barphalangphedi-Shantinagar road sections of the Madan Bhandari Highway has been hindered with a lack of coordination between the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Forests and Environment.

As part of the project construction, the majority of the 95.8-kilometre stretch of this road traverses through forested areas. Specifically, within the 53 kilometres of the Dharan-Kerabari-Letang-Madhumalla-Beldangi road section, there are 5,789 trees. The Shantinagar to Patapur road section, stretching 13.87 kilometres, has 3,689 trees, and the 13-kilometre stretch from Barphalangphedi to Shantinagar has 2,880 trees.

According to Subhash Kumar Datta, Information Officer of the Madan Bhandari Highway Project Damak office, the project submitted a request to the Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoFE) on March 23, 2023, seeking permission for the removal of trees.  Gopal Prasad Khakurel, head of the project, said that the work had been halted due to the MoFE's delay in tree removal.

Khakurel highlighted that the project faces a dual challenge of insufficient budget and a lack of interest from the MoEF in tree removal. He said that only Rs. 1.52 billion has been paid for the road, whereas the contracted amount was Rs. 4.6 billion.

Likewise, a contract was granted for the construction of the bridge on the road for Rs. 6.12 billion. The Koshi section of the Madan Bhandari Highway encompasses a total of 37 bridges. Currently, construction of 16 bridges has been completed, while construction is ongoing for the remaining 21 bridges.

While the work on the big bridges has been completed, the small bridges and culverts are under construction. Khakurel said that it seems that Rs. 4 billion should be paid when the work under construction is completed. Only Rs. 490 million was allocated for the project in fiscal year 2023/2024.

Out of this, a bill has been sent for the payment demand of Rs. 380 million. Looking at the details of the current work and progress, it seems that by the end of the current  fiscal year, Rs. 1.45 billion should be given to the construction companies. However, the source is not guaranteed.

Datta said that the Koshi section of the Madan Bhandari Highway stretches from Sardu Khola in Sunsari to Patapur in Jhapa for a length of 127.8 km. Out of this, 32 km from the Kamal Khola to Sahadatsthal and 6 km from Chatara to Sardu Khola have not been contracted.

Out of the 95.8 km contracted, only 19.5 km of the road has been paved. Seven separate contracts have been signed for road construction. According to the agreement, the blacktopping work of the project was to be completed by now.

Khakurel said that the contract period of the project will be extended due to the legal complications in removing trees from the road area and the lack of budget assurance. On the other hand, the divisional forest officers in Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari and Ilam districts have cited legal challenges hindering tree removal, primarily arising from the double standards of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure. 

Ramlakhan Thakur, Divisional Officer representing Morang, said that the initial communication called for the removal of trees within a 10x10 metre radius from the centre point of the road.

As per instructions, the Forest Office initiated the work. However, during the preparation and submission of the report, it was said that trees within a 15x15 metre radius from the centre point of the road should be removed. Again, the district officials adjusted their preparations accordingly.

Following this, the project decided to reverse the work, citing the potential significant damage to the forest.

 Thakur said that the work came to a standstill upon receiving information that varying numbers of trees needed removal periodically. In Morang, out of the total 35.4 kilometres of road, 7 kilometres of road passes through the forest area.

Despite marking the trees which need to be cut down, no substantial progress has been made. Similarly, 7 km of road in Sunsari, 3 km in Jhapa and 6 km Ilam falls in the forest area.