Er.energyNP@Gmail.com

In the wake of petroleum price hike, the activities relating to mega projects have been disrupted. The price hike delayed supply of essentials to construction work, thereby delaying projects in Sudurpaschim Province.

The construction entrepreneurs said they were facing problems managing fuel to transport construction materials. Although the stock is eking out the present need, speeding up construction works is meeting sheer hindrance in sight.

The roadway construction from Tikapur to Taklakot via Lode-Chainpur is getting halted soon, according to project chief Ram Kumar Dev. "Heavy equipment used to open tracks are now grounded for shortage of fuel," he informed.

The project to go 200-km was launched in 2074BS. Opening a track in a 35-km stretch is awaited, and so far only 10-km is blacktopped.

The construction entrepreneurs have begun applying at authorities, reasoning that they could not forward works owing to the price hike of petroleum products.

Another pride project in the province, Mahakali Irrigation 3d phase, is receiving adverse effect of petro price hike. The project is being run in seven packages for the construction of an irrigation canal.

Information officer at project office, Yadav Baral, shared the plight that they were facing utmost difficulty in forwarding construction works. Although contracts were signed for embankment work, the price hike of gabion wires suddenly stalled construction. "If the construction of the river embankment is not completed on time, it may cause havoc in the rainy season," he added.

He also said they had informed the concerned authorities about the problems relating to petrol price hike.

The list of projects hit by the petro price hike goes further. Under the Mahakali Corridor, contracts were made for 13 segments, but the construction workers stopped labour arguing the latest adversity. Only the Tikar section is underway at present.

Information officer at road project office for the Mahakali Corridor (Brahmadev to Tinkar via Jhulaghat-Darchula), Dinesh Raikhola, said the prices of fuel and bitumen rose sharply, creating obstruction to the construction. The corridor stretches 425-km.

The contract workers have demanded the government to adjust prices of all materials related to construction, considering petrol price hike.

Chairman of Contractors' Association in Kanchanpur, Pushpa Raj Awasthi, said the contractors had demanded the government to declare an emergency in the construction industry.

Over 600 construction workers affiliated to the Association in Kanchanpur have demanded a construction holiday, citing shortage of materials and petro price hike, he added.