KATHMANDU: Shortage of the diesel continues to hit development projects. Though it has already been a month since border blockade was lifted, development projects are still facing fuel shortage, which, according to officials, has forced them to operate at low capacity. This has slowed government spending which will ultimately hit national economy.
Ghanashyam Bhattarai, executive director of Melamchi Water Supply Project, said project work has been affected as contractor has not been able to get sufficient volume of diesel. “We have repeatedly asked the authority concerned to provide sufficient volume of diesel to our contractor. But our request has fall on deaf ears,” Bhattarai said. NOC provided 80,000 liters of diesel to the project last week, after a gap of a week. The project needs at least 50,000 liters of diesel every week.
All 21 national pride projects and other prioritized projects are facing similar problems. Government spending in this fiscal is still below 15 percent of the target because most of the development works have been affected.
Gopal Sigdel, joint secretary of Department of Roads (DoR), said contractors of different infrastructure projects have not been able to resume work because of fuel shortage. Sigdel oversees different infrastructure projects like Koshi Corridor, Kaligandaki Corridor and Karnali Corridor as well as upgradation of important trade routes like Butwal-Belaiya, Pathlaiya-Birgunj, Janakpur-Jatahi, Itahari-Dhara as well as some sections of East West Highway. This is the peak season for road construction.
“All projects under DoR have been affected. Though projects in Tarai districts are getting fuel to some extent, those in hilly districts are still affected,” added Sigdel.
A source at DoR said contractors will get fuel only if they are ready to pay Rs 5 to 10 per liter extra. Project managers have been requesting Chief District Officers (CDOs) of concerned district for fuel, but they are not getting fuel, the source added. Project manager fear development spending will not improve if fuel supply is not normalized in this peak season for development work.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Sunday issued a circular to Ministry of Supply and Ministry of Home Affairs, directing them to ease fuel supply to all national pride projects and prioritized projects.
