Construction of Tharu Museum in Dhangadhi obstructed due to lack of funds

Dhangadhi: The work of Rana Tharu Museum under construction in Dhangadhi has been postponed due to lack of funds.

A contract agreement has been signed with the budget by the federal government to complete the construction of the museum in Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan within 36 months. But locals have said that the work of the museum has been neglected for six months.

Local Sanu Rana said that the construction of the museum building has been on halt since six months.

"A small building was under construction," she said. They were constructing a museum building. But they have not come after Maghi. There is only one watchman. No one else is coming. We haven't even seen the contractors. Why did you stop working? ”

Constractors have complained that even Narad Muni Rana, a member of the disbanded House of Representatives, has not been able to speed up the construction of the museum due to lack of interest in advancing the work of the museum through local infrastructure development partnership program.

Locals fear that the construction of the Ranatharu Museum, which is said to be constructed at a cost of Rs 66.11 million by the federal government, will be not be completed within the stipulated time.

Rana said, “It is called Rana Tharu Museum. It would have been better if we had built it sooner. But the work is not being done. How many years does it take?”

Though an agreement was signed between the Sub-Metropolitan and TS Construction 18 months ago in June, 2020 for the construction of a museum  in Ward No. 13 of Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan. 

Leaders of the local Rana Tharu community said that they were disappointed after the work was stopped for six months.

The construction work of the museum building, Prakhal and others under construction has been stopped now. It is claimed that the work of the security guard and the administrative building is in the final stage while other works have been stopped due to lack of budget.

Tech Malla, the operator of PS Construction, said that the belt contractor left the work as he did not receive any money.

"A friend was working. But the bills were not paid and he had to account for it. I am thinking of giving it to another friend from January 29. We will start work from 29,” he said.

Narad Muni Rana, a member of the dissolved House of Representatives, had allocated Rs. 5 million for the Local Infrastructure Development Partnership Program and Rs. 2.5 million for the Terai Madhes Samridhi Program in the last fiscal year 2076/07.

But the Sub-Metropolitan itself has not invested in it. Division Engineer of Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan Dijraj Bhatta said that the work could not be carried out due to lack of budget. He said the construction company had started work. But there is not enough money to complete it. 

Meanwhile, Member of the House of Representatives Rana said that the budget was stopped some time ago due to inconvenience over land issue. But now the land dispute has also been resolved, he said, adding that work will move forward.