70% projects stalled in West Nawalparasi

By Our Correspondent,Parasi, Apr. 27: Development activities across all seven local levels in West Nawalparasi have been severely disrupted due to a sharp rise in construction material prices. 

Around 200 projects, both small and large, have reportedly held up due to a significant gap between official district rates and current market prices of materials.

Speaking at a joint press conference held at the district headquarters on Sunday, local representatives said that only about 30 per cent of the planned work has been completed so far, while the remaining 70 per cent has come to a standstill. 

They warned that the ongoing price surge has prevented new tenders from being issued, and even previously contracted projects have been abandoned by contractors, raising concerns about budget freezes and increasing financial liabilities for local governments.

Chief of the District Coordination Committee, Bhagauti Yadav, said, “It is very unfortunate that 70 per cent of projects across the district have stalled. Contractors have abandoned work due to the excessive rise in construction material prices.” 

He added that unless the government adjusts the rates in time, a large portion of this year’s development budget will inevitably remain unused.

Mayor of Ramgram Municipality Dhanpat Yadav said that contractors have refused to participate in tenders, citing low official rates. 

He said, “Delays in completing projects on time have created additional obligations for the municipality for the coming year, making it difficult to introduce new plans and prorgammes.”

Mayor of Bardaghat Municipality Shambhulal Shrestha noted that skyrocketing prices of cement, steels and rods, and fuel have made it difficult even to pay workers’ wages. 

"Contractors have halted work as continuing under old rates would lead to significant losses,” he said. 

According to Mayor of Sunwal Municipality Bimala Aryal, even consumer committees are unwilling to take responsibility for projects due to rising costs. 

She said, “The halt in development work has directly impacted the public, and complaints against local governments are increasing.”

Chairperson of Pratappur Rural Municipality Umesh Chandra Yadav said that even small-scale local projects have been suspended, leading to job losses at the local level. 

“With no environment for awarding new contracts, achieving development targets has become more challenging,” he said.

Chairperson of Sarawal Rural Municipality Sukhadi Prasad Chaudhary said that contractors have formally informed authorities that they are unable to continue work on already contracted projects. 

“This problem will not be resolved until there is alignment between market prices and government-set rates,” he added.

Chairperson of Palhinandan Rural Municipality Baiju Prasad Gupta warned that stalled projects will force municipalities to allocate additional budgets in the coming year to complete unfinished work, increasing financial burdens and the risk of debt.

Local representatives urged the federal and provincial governments to immediately establish scientific rate standards or implement a special price adjustment mechanism to address the current price hikes and facilitate the progress of ongoing projects.