Kathmandu. Deepak Bahadur Singh, Chairman of the Infrastructure Development Committee under the House of Representatives, has complained that the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has not responded to his repeated correspondence regarding the distribution of compensation and standards during the road expansion.
He made this complaint during a discussion on the committee’s annual draft report, 2081, and the complaints received by the committee at the committee meeting held at Singha Durbar on Tuesday. He pointed out that the expansion of the road from Hetauda to Dharan risks destroying old settlements in the market area and making thousands of locals homeless.
He expressed concern that thousands of citizens who have been paying taxes to the government for years will become homeless and stressed that compensation for the road expansion should be provided and that another option should be found if that is not possible.
He said, ‘In the current situation, an understanding has been reached with the ADB to take the bypass from Birgunj as well as the road that is to be built. Taking it from Hetauda will end the old settlements. Even now, when the committee asks the ministry about how much money was given for that compensation, the ministry has not responded despite sending letters repeatedly. Next, the road from Hetauda to Dharan ends at that market. It also says 31 meters right and 31 meters left. If compensation has been received for that too, please inform the committee. Compensation has not been given, even though we asked when and under what law this criterion was determined, the Ministry of Infrastructure has not responded to this day. Since thousands of houses and people who have been living on rent for years will become squatters, if this has to be done with proper compensation, why not ask the local bodies and people there that there is another alternative to that cost?’
In the meeting, CPN (UML) MP Mahesh Basnet said that the problem of about 300 houses being affected in Hetauda market during the road expansion should be viewed in connection with the nationwide problem. He said that if the problem of Hetauda is solved, the problem of Birtamod should be solved, the problem of Itahari should be solved, and similar problems of other highway markets should be solved.
He emphasized that it is necessary to consider solving all problems in a policy manner rather than just one thing.
He said, ‘What has come up in the complaint regarding the three hundred houses in Hetauda market is a nationwide problem. If the problem there is solved, should the problem of Birtamod be solved or not? Whether that problem will come to Itahari or not, including all the markets on the highway, it comes as a common problem. We should think about how we will take it forward in a policy-level manner, rather than just one thing.’
CPN (Unified Socialist) MP Prakash Jwala said that the issue of extending the East-West Highway from Hetauda Bazaar is very complex and controversial. He said that while some houses and huts are being demolished to speed up the road work, some are being obstructed due to fear of displacement.
He said that the main problem is the problem of compensation, saying that the problem has arisen due to the inability to pay compensation even for roads that were previously determined to be compensated, and that the budget does not allow for a new decision to pay compensation and the government cannot make such a decision.
He stressed that there is no other option but to go for a new option on the issue and stressed that it should be finalized.
He said, ‘The issue of clearing the road from Jun Bazaar in Hetauda to the East-West Highway is a very controversial and complex issue. Some say that the road work should be expedited by demolishing the existing houses and huts, while others say that businesses will be destroyed, houses will be destroyed, and we will be displaced, and that work is being obstructed. We tried very hard to find an agreement on that, but no agreement was reached at that time. The court order should also be used as a basis for this issue, and the other is this stuck compensation. What is the problem with compensation? Even on roads that were previously determined to be compensated, compensation has not been paid, and now there is another problem, on various roads. The government cannot make a new decision to pay compensation, it is not possible with the budget. In the midst of such disputes between not being able to pay compensation and the locals not allowing the road to be cleared without paying compensation, one option is a bypass. When a bypass is done, the road will definitely be lengthened, and there will be disputes there too. That the road will be built as much as there is in that market area. There is no other option but to go for a new option. We need to resolve this issue.’
In the committee meeting, the lawmakers emphasized the need to resolve the dispute between the local people, local level representatives, and the federal government on the issue of road expansion and compensation at a policy level.
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