Myagdi. The project to construct a motorable bridge over Dang rivulet linking Malika rural municipality’s centre Darbang bazaar to Muna via Dharapani-Takam of Dhawalagiri rural municipality has remained in limbo.

The construction of the bridge over Dang rivulet at Fedi on the border of Malika-5 and Dhaulagiri-7 has not been started even five years since the contract was signed. The Infrastructure Development Office and Indreni-Phewa JV, Pokhara had signed a contract agreement on June 5 for the construction of the 18-meter long bridge.

Ashok Khatri, ward chairman of Dhawalagiri-7, said that the construction of the bridge that was supposed to be completed on May 22, 2021 has not started. “The bridge is necessary for regular operation of traffic along the road linking Muna, the centre of Dhawalagiri. ’

Ward chair Khatri said locals of Gurja, Lulang, Muna, Mudi and Takam have been facing problems in mobility due to the delay in constructing a temporary bridge over the Dang rivulet in 2075 BS.

According to the Infrastructure Development Office, the construction of the bridge has been affected after the contractors were not allowed to work immediately after the agreement was signed at the construction site.

The office has refunded the deposit of Rs 33 lakh given to the contractor after the work was not completed. Gandaki Province Assembly member Resham Bahadur Jugjali (Subin), who was elected from Myagdi in 1920, blamed the Darwang Myagdi Khola Hydropower Project for the lack of a motorable bridge over the Dang rivulet.

“If the contractors who came after the agreement were allowed to carry out the work, the bridge would have been constructed within the same time,” he said, adding, “As per the agreement, the Darwang Myagdi Khola Hydropower Project should construct the bridge over the Dang rivulet.” ’

Promoter of the Dhaulagiri Kalika Hydropower Project Tejendra Roka said he was not informed about the agreement as the project has been shifted to Ilpu from Dang rivulet and as the new operator was the new operator of the motorable bridge. The then director of the project, Harkman Magar, had signed a written decision to construct the bridge over Dang rivulet if the government failed to construct the bridge.