VICTIMS OF VALLEY ROAD WIDENING DRIVE

Pratik Rimal
Kathmandu, March 27

There’s a disappointing side to the widely appreciated story of the government's road expansion drive in the Kathmandu Valley, untold and unheard so far: the laborers who have been working hard to to make the government's road widening drive a success haven't been paid their wages. This has made it quite difficult for them to eke out a living.

These poor laborers haven't got their wages because the contractors hired by different community groups to carry out the demolition of houses and buildings on the sides of the roads haven't been paid. The community groups haven't been able to pay the contractors because they themselves are yet to get paid by the Kathmandu Valley Town Development Committee (KVTDC). And the KVTDC hasn't paid the community groups because the Ministry of Finance (MoF) is yet to relase the funds.
“It is very difficult because I have a family of five to feed,” Krishna Pun, a laborer at Chabahil said. Pun, his wife and their elder son were all working to demolish houses at Chabahil. “We go to the contractor and he says he doesn’t have money, and that he’d inform us as soon as he has the cash. We’ve been waiting for a month, but there’s no money, and we are living on credit,” said a distressed Pun, who has to collect altogether a sum of Rs. 50,000. Another laborer at New Baneshwor shared the same plight.

The scene of KVTDC is also troubling. Members of the 30-concerned committees elected by it to assist the road expansion drive throng its premises demanding their shares. Following assurances from the MoF it had assured the community groups to pay them as soon as they complete their assignements. However, months down the line, it has nothing to give to the community group except narrating that the MoF has been mum.
“The road expansion drive was not given on tender. It was handed to community groups, and for this reason, it has been successful,” Indra Kumar Chamling, one of the members of 30-community groups said. Though their contribution has made the drive a success and completed their assignements with six months, they are left high and dry. “We bought construction materials on credit by promising that we'd repay them immediately after we complete our work. Now, shopkeepers are claiming the dues. And we don’t have money to pay them because KVTDC hasn’t paid us,” Chamling said, claiming that his group is at the receiving end of around four million rupees from KVTDC.

What concerns stakeholders is the silence of MoF. So far, the MoF has neither reimbursed the community groups, nor has said that it does not have money to pay. Tiwari and Chamling both say that the ministry frustrates them. “If they didn’t have money, why did they start the drive, and if they have the money, why aren’t they paying back our labor,” Chamling queried.

A higher source said that when the government started the move, MoF had shown the money that it never had. “When the government started the drive, they actually didn’t have money. Yet, they assured elected community groups that once they complete their job, they’d be paid back,” a source who preferred anonymity said.
Dr. Bhai Kaji Tiwari, Town Controller at KVTDC repeatedly consoles the community group’s representative with the same refrain, “We don’t have money because the Ministry isn’t paying us.” Tiwari added that so far, there has been no response from MoF. "When we reach them, we are told that there's no minister and secretary. What they are doing is very irresponsible," Tiwari said.
FEAR OF A HIATUS

So far, the drive has succeeded in expanding 22 kilometers of roads. If the government falters to its words, Tiwari fears that the road expansion drive could come to a halt. Although few people had created a scene on house demolitions, the larger number of Kathmandu dwellers who owned a house had readily renounced a part of their property to appreciate the government’s move. “So far, the move has been successful because people had willingly participated. Community groups had raised money from houses with promises to repay them. It's painful to see that the ‘promised’ words are not happening,” Tiwari said adding, “People could lose their faith on government, and the expansion could stop abruptly,” Chamling cautioned.
KVTDC had initially asked Rs. 110.65 million rupees to FM. Since FM declined the offer, the former had asked for Rs. 50 millions on Tuesday. “That way, we can continue the drive. Otherwise, it soon will wind up,” Tiwari warned. The FM could not be reached for its version despite numerous attempts.

HEALTH AILMENTS

Shova Baral, 23 is a resident of Chabahel. Allergic to dust pollution since her childhood, Baral, these days, is finding it difficult to bear the demolition drive. Although she has fully covered herself, Baral still finds it difficult, especially because of the season. "The temperature's so hot, and I'm sweating within. Yet, I need to cover my hands because I am allergic to dust. The bustling traffic, honking horns, ever-flowing dust and the hot Sun. How do you escape it," Baral argued. Baral is not the only one to suffer from the 'praised' demolition drive. Amrit Shakya of Jorpati and his friends too share the same troubles.

Udita Khanal, a resident doctor at Tribhuwan University Teaching Hospital said that people living close to demolition and those passing the demolished area are likely to suffer from various forms of skin and eye allergies. "Moreover, the pollution could also heighten chronic cases like asthama and atopy," Khanal said.

DRAINAGE WOES LIKELY TO OCCUR
As the sweltering heat of summer will soon welcome rainy season, experts on drainage system worry of a flooded valley if construction wastes are not cleared sooner. "Our drainage system are not designed systematically and do not adhere to standard norms. Unless we flush them with jet pipes, there could be blockades in the coming days," Birendra Man Pradhan, an expert said, adding that since the debris is higher this time, the frequency of flushing must happen more often.