Kathmandu. Lawmakers have expressed dissatisfaction over the attitude of contractors for failing to complete the construction of the federal parliament building in Singha Durbar on time.
Speaking at a meeting of the Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Committee of the Directive Principles, Policies and Responsibilities of the State held at Singha Durbar on Thursday to discuss the progress of the under-construction Federal Parliament Building at Singha Durbar, the lawmakers said that the contractor has not ignored the government.
In the committee meeting, Nepali Congress lawmaker Dilendra Prasad Badu said that the work of the federal parliament building could not be completed on time due to the weakness of the contractor. Stating that the work could not be completed on time as the contractors did not start the work on time and did not use the required human resources, he argued that it was worrisome that the work could not be completed even when there was no shortage of necessary budget.
He said, “What is preparing for a project is that we can do so much on such a date, we will put so much manpower, we can give this condition, there is no weakness on the part of the government.” How much money has been made, almost payment has been made. There is no weakness of money here. There is weakness on the part of the contractor. If we cannot ask why he did not put in time, did not complete the manpower, and why did he not put in the manpower, then how long did this mistake happen? Why did this mistake happen? If you don’t wear it, do you do it somewhere from the department? There is one thing that can be asked and understood now. ‘
CpN (Maoist Centre) chief whip Hitraj Pandey said the country was being run by contractors. He said there was no hope that the under-construction federal parliament building would be completed within the extended time considering the progress so far. He said the government should initiate action against those who do not act as per their obligations.
He argued that there was no alternative to canceling the contract with penalty as there was no hope that the construction would not be completed in the next two days.
He said, “Even after coming today, there is no content that it will be made. We don’t feel that way when we look at the work. We have repeatedly said that this country is run by contractors. That’s the right thing. This is proof of this. No matter how much we talk here, the government talks about extending the deadline. Now the government should initiate action according to its responsibility who did not do any work there. The deadline is not extended, it will not be made, it will not be done on time. You say 200 days, it will not be made in 200 days. It doesn’t matter if it takes two years, now this country has to be built. For that reason, the contract should now be canceled with its penalty. There is no other way than that. ‘
Nepali Congress lawmaker Dev Prasad Timalsena said that the progress report of the under-construction federal parliament building should be strictly checked within 7-7 days.
He opined that the work would pick up pace only after taking account of the progress report along with monitoring every 7-7 days. He claimed that the contractors had ignored the state for not getting the work on time despite having money
He said, “We have said that pride plans should be made on time, but they will not be made. In 7-7 days, i had to look very hard. How much population does he have? How much does he take? When the deadline is extended tomorrow, the progress report should be seen in 7-7 days, the DG should go and take us too. How much progress has been made and it will finally work. Write down that even if the deadline is extended now, it will not work. Otherwise, whether to break the contract or impose a penalty or not to go into the matter of whatever is done? Now the contractor could not do anything. We have the money, even though it is all, it is the state’s hand. ‘
In the committee meeting, CPN (UML) lawmaker Lal Prasad Sawa Limbu said that there was a tendency for contractors to work in the contract process and the state would continue to extend the deadline. Stating that he was not in a position to terminate the contract at the moment, he urged the government to present it strictly.
He stressed the need to break the contract or take action with penalty if the work is not done in the next 200 days.
He added, “I think the trend of our contract process is that we will keep adding, they will not work. Keep on adding, not working. Right now, we are not in a position to break the contract. Now you have to study well. Now if the work is not completed in 200 days, 6 months, then action will be taken with penalty, what should be done according to the law to break the contract. ‘
The then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Parliament Building on September 1, 2017. However, the federal parliament building, which was contracted to be completed in three years, has not been completed even after five and a half years.
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