By Baburam Sharma
Dolakha, Nov. 14: It has been 23 years since the construction of Mude-Deurali-Baghkhor road section in Sailung Rural Municipality started. The locals, however, have not been able to take proper benefit from the project yet.
The then District Development Committee of Dolakha had initiated the construction of the road under an assistance from World Food Programme in 1998. A year later, a gravel road track was opened and vehicles started moving.
In 2000, bus started reaching Baghkhor bazaar. Three years later, road construction was completed up to Bhainse.

Nevertheless, the road started deteriorating. Budget has been allocated repeatedly for soling the road and constructing drainage system since then but to no avail.
Locals argued that 22 years have passed since they awaited the road to be blacktopped.
But after more than two decades, the roads have numerous potholes and the vehicles have a hard time plying. During monsoon, the road is more dreadful.

The eight-kilomtre-long Mude-Melung road section is in the most deteriorated state. Starting from Mude, the road passes through Baghkhor bazzar, Sailung, Doramba of Ramechhap and Charikot to Sitali of Melung. This road is the lifeline for both Sailung and Melung Rural Municipalities.
Initiated from the then district development committee, the Charikot Road Division Office blacktopped 1.5km stretch from Mude a decade ago. Some years later, the road office awarded a contract for further blacktopping.

According to locals, the contractor used dozers on the road but the construction was not complete within the given period of two years. The contractor’s termination was initiated after five years of awarding the contract.
The Bagmati Province government has awarded Sailung Rural Municipality twice citing excellent work but the locals are bound to commute along the pitiable road.
Almost five years ago, the winning party of the local level election in Sailung had mentioned blacktopping the road as one of the major pledges. With the team’s tenure coming to an end, the road still remains same.

Moreover, the elected representatives also commute along the same road to reach the office but they seem unaffected.
“The Bagmati Province government opened bidding for blacktopping the road and awarded the project to a contractor. The contractor is not doing the job. We have drawn the attention of concerned authorities but it has been useless,” said Bharat Prasad Dulal.

The Bagmati Province Infrastructure Development Office, Sindhupalchowk had awarded a contract to blacktop 16km section of Mude-Dhunge. The task was to be completed by June but the deadline has been extended by a year citing the COVID-19 pandemic.
While authorities extend the deadline, locals continue paying the price.

“During winter, potatoes are to be transported for Rs. 2 per kilogram from Sailung. But the road condition has pushed the price to Rs. 8 per kilogram,” said local Krishna Shrestha.
Annually, potatoes, cabbages and cauliflowers worth over Rs. 300 million are produced in Sailung. The vegetables are supplied to Kathmandu.
“The farmers have not been able to earn well as the transportation cost is high. Commuting is difficult throughout the year and tourism has tumbled due to the poor condition of road,” said Shrestha.