Farm road constructions in Lhuentse Dzongkhag are not completed as planned in the 10th Five Year Plan. Out of the 26 farm roads under construction so far, only seven farm roads have been completed. As a result, the Planning Officer says that more than Nu .98 million has been left as outstanding bill pending.
The Planning Officer of Lhuentse Dzongkhag, Tshering Dendup, says both the Dzongkhag and the contractors are worried. The contractors have not been paid properly for the last six months. “The farm roads, which are under construction by the contractors, are paid in few advances and we have not been able to pay them. When we say we need more than Nu. 98 million it does not mean the government has not given at all,” said the Planning Officer, adding that since the farm roads are still under construction the funds from SDPs are yet to reach them.
However, not any of the works are put on halt. Some of the contractors said it is difficult to work without payment as they have to meet their daily expenses for machinery and other miscellaneous expenditures.
The farm road construction is funded by the government and Small Development Project under government of India.
Out of the 16, only three are funded by the government.
