2021-11-18
Local youths of Kanthekhola rural municipality-5 and 6 Bihu, staged symbolic demonstrations by displaying the black flag and tying black bandages against the delay in upgrading and blacktopping the Baglung-Ghodabandhe section of the Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway, a project of national pride. The demonstrators claimed that the local people have been tormented due to the slow progression and they demanded that the Bihu section road must be blacktopped immediately.
According to the local youth Diwas Kandel, due to the negligence of the construction company, the work of blacktopping has been stopped even after years of contract agreement and the youths have started pressuring the road department to be responsible, revoke the license of the non-performing contractor company and start the work immediately. The locals have been suffering from dust in winter and mud in the rainy season due to the paved roads. "Now that our protest programs are being phased out, all sectors need to be held accountable," Kandel said.
The construction of the Bihu section started in 2072 BS and the Baglung Akshet section started in 2073 BS, it should have been completed in three years. Locals have been protesting from time to time saying that there has been no work other than extending the term even after six years. Locals allege that Bharat Siddhisahi JV, which was given the responsibility of upgrading the Baglung Akshet section and blacktopping, and Surya Construction, which was given the responsibility of 12.5 km and Bihu Ghodabandhe section, did not work.
Violent / Non-violent | Nonviolent |
Primary Form | Demonstration |
Primary Cause | Access/control of development infrastructure (roads, bridges) |
Actor 1 - Number of people | n/a |
Actor 1 - Affiliations | Citizen/Individuals |
Actor 1 - Youth | youth |
Actor 2 - Number of people | n/a |
Actor 2 - Affiliation (Target) | Government and civil servants at central level |
Actor 2 - Youth | unknown |
THE NEPAL PEACE MONITOR ANNUAL REVIEW: 2020
October 25, 2021
Human Trafficking / LGBT+ Rights / GBV / Political / Children’s Rights / Senior Citizens’ Rights / HRD Issues / Human Rights / Interpersonal Violence / Governance / Covid-19 / Civic-Space / PwD