Jugadkhola Corridor Project begins in Jumla

By Netra Shahi,Jumla, Feb. 20: Construction of the Jugadkhola Corridor has begun on either side of the Jugadkhola (river), which flows through Khalanga, the district headquarters of Jumla.

The project aims to transform the polluted and waste-laden river into a clean and pristine waterway. 

Chandannath Municipality initiated the corridor project to make Jugadkhola more attractive and environmentally friendly.

Deputy Mayor of Chandannath Municipality, Ramadevi Khadka, laid the foundation stone of the corridor construction project. 

According to Khadka, the project will play a significant role in promoting tourism. 

“Once completed, the crystal-clear Jugadkhola will be a breathtaking sight,” she said. 

Planning for tourism infrastructure within the corridor is already underway. The work has commenced near the office of the Water Consumer Committee in Chandannath-5.

Chief administrative officer of Chandannath Municipality, Tek Bahadur Budhathapa, said that the corridor is a multi-year project, with an initial budget allocation of Rs. 60 million for the current fiscal year to construct a three-kilometre stretch of the corridor. 

He added that the project is being developed with the support of the Cooperative Development and Building Construction Project in Jumla. He emphasised the significance of the corridor, stating that the municipality has prioritised the project to ensure a clean and green Jugadkhola.

The Urban and Building Division Office, Jumla, has already called for tenders worth Rs. 60 million in the first phase and has laid the foundation stone. 

According to sub-engineer Chandra Bahadur Khadka, an additional Rs. 38 million has been allocated for the second phase, and work is expected to commence soon.

Chandannath Municipality has planned to install street lights and CCTV cameras and build resting places along the corridor. 

The project is designed to ease morning walks, and the estimated layout includes a two-metre-wide pathway on both sides of the river, extending from the Water Consumer Committee Office to Malabhir in Chandannath-4, to be completed within this fiscal year.

Mayor of Chandannath Municipality, Raju Singh Kathayat, stated that the corridor project is a priority of the municipality.  

“There will be challenges in removing physical structures built in public spaces within the corridor, but the municipality is committed to moving forward,” he said. 

The municipality has already issued letters to locals to clear structures in the designated area. 

Mayor Kathayat added, “Notices have been sent, and we have urged immediate demolition of houses and sheds built on the public land.”