Sudurpaschim cabinet approves road maintenance directive and relief for prison clash victim

Dhangadhi: The Sudurpaschim Provincial Government Council of Ministers has approved the Road Maintenance Group Directive to institutionalize the province’s road maintenance system. The decision was made during a cabinet meeting held on Sunday, establishing a policy-level framework for the regular upkeep of roads constructed by the provincial government.

According to the Secretariat of Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah, the directive ensures that blacktopped roads built by the provincial government will be maintained regularly through allocated budgets under the road maintenance project. The objective of the directive is to extend the lifespan of provincial roads and provide a clear mechanism for their upkeep.

Previously, the absence of such a directive had prevented the provincial government from maintaining roads handed over by construction contractors. Infrastructure development offices under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development had repeatedly highlighted that completed roads could not be properly maintained due to the lack of guidelines and budget. During last fiscal year’s progress review, the Infrastructure Development Office in Kailali identified the inability to maintain handed-over roads as a major challenge.

In addition to the road maintenance directive, the cabinet approved the ‘Far West Province Vocational Guidance Service Operation Procedure, 2082’ proposed by the Ministry of Social Development. The Ministry was also authorized to submit a bill to amend the ‘Far West Public Health Service Act, 2076’ to the Provincial Assembly.

The cabinet further decided to provide financial assistance to the family of prisoner Bharat Chaudhary, who died in a clash between two groups at Kailali Jail on July 23. This relief of Rs 500,000 had been recommended by the Provincial Security Committee in a meeting held on July 25 in the presence of Chief Minister Shah.