SSB obstructs blacktopping of Postal Highway in Kanchanpur, says Minister Jwala

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 17Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Prakash Jwala, has stated that the Indian
Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) has been causing obstructions in the blacktopping of the Postal Highway (Hulaki Rajmarga) in the far west of
Nepal.
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During a meeting of the Delegated Management and Government Assurance Committee of the National Assembly (NA) today, the
Minister discussed challenges in completing the project due to the non-cooperation from the SSB
According to him, blacktopping has been hampered in the Belauri-Pachui area in Kanchanpur.Minister Jwala mentioned issues related to border
disputes in the given area, and despite various initiatives from the official channel to ease the situation for the highway construction, no
results have been achieved
The Postal Highway is being developed by connecting 21 districts in the Terai from east to west. The Committee, a few days
back, visited the area, and the Minister was summoned to the meeting today to provide information about government efforts towards project
implementation.According to the Minister, the Foreign Ministry has been requested to facilitate in this matter
He also called for efforts from authorities concerned to address the issue.Postal Highway Directorate Director Ajay Kumar Mul briefed the
meeting that 60 kilometers in Kanchanpur has been divided into three clusters (each cluster measuring 20 kilometers), and the blacktopping
is underway
Border disputes have hampered the works along a 1,400-meter section of the Belauri Pachui-Khapati River area.As he stated, there were no
issues during the preparations for the blacktopping
The SSB intervened while graveling works were about to start for the blacktopping, citing that the area lies in no man's land
The Survey Office and Department were also apprised of this development by the road project.According to the project, diplomatic initiation
is necessary to sort out the issue
The exact location of Pillar number 38 should be identified
As Mul mentioned, they are waiting for substantive direction from the government to proceed with the project implementation
However, the second cluster incorporating the Belauri-Pachai-Khapati River reports 80 percent physical progress.Similarly, the project faces
issues in the implementation of the third cluster, a 15-kilometer stretch, as the area lies along the Shuklaphanta National Park area.The
collection of construction materials and the construction works are to be restricted to daylight, and it is challenging to transport
construction equipment to the site as well.Though Rs 4.5 billion budget was ensured initially for the project, it is estimated to require
around Rs 10 billion.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com