Roads remain unused in absence of upgradation in Kalikot

By Prem Raj Simkhada,Kalikot, Mar. 8: Roads have extended to nearly all local levels in Kalikot district, as building roads has become the preferred choice of the local government. However, despite their construction, many of these roads remain unused.

Raskot Municipality in the district is geographically more accessible than others, and more roads have been constructed here.

But, due to the local government's failure to upgrade the roads it constructed itself, they are currently not in use. There are three roads leading to Gautukot in Raskot Hospital. Since none of these roads are operational, patients have to be transported either by carrying them in the back or using a stretcher.

Although the outlines of the roads constructed for the upper settlements of Ward Nos. 2, 3, and 4 are visible, there are no roads suitable for four-wheelers. The Kasi road, which was constructed with an investment from the provincial government to connect Potmara to Sannitribeni, is also not in use.

Bal Bahadur Bishwakarma from Ward No. 1 in the municipality said that the roads, dug using dozers and showcased as an investment were neither upgraded nor repaired. Since their initial construction, the roads have remained impassable and have not undergone any repairs due to budget mismanagement. Locals are facing hardship because the road connecting the municipality to Ward Nos. 8 and 9 remains unrepaired.

According to Ganesh Dhamala of Ward No. 8, motorcycles are also driven dangerously on these roads. As there are no vehicles, the locals of Ward Nos. 8 and 9 have to walk to the municipality centre and market to go to Surkhet and Nepalgunj while those coming from the two cities have to walk home from the municipality centre.

Dhamala expressed that the current government lacked interest in repairing roads constructed by the previous administration, resulting in their disuse. The road connecting Ward Nos. 2 and 1 at Bahaltola remains unused as well. 

Tek Bahadur Shahi from Ward No. 1 questioned how the roads to their village would be repaired when the one leading to the hospital was not repaired. He accused the local government of showing prejudice against certain settlements.

Not only Raskot but also other local bodies in the district have not given much attention to maintaining the roads constructed earlier. The condition of the roads built by the previous local governments in Palanta Rural Municipality, Shubhakalika Rural Municipality, Khandachakra Municipality and Pachaljharna Rural Municipality has worsened due to the lack of repairs. 

The representatives of the local government have been providing pre-prepared responses, citing the absence of a new maintenance programme because of pending payments for previous plans. 

Dev Jung Shahi, Chairman of Pachaljharna Rural Municipality, said that as the outstanding payments from previous projects were nearly settled, they would allocate the budget for necessary repairs.