August 2: The construction entrepreneurs have been continuously protesting since the past few days saying that they did not get the payment on time for the projects that have been already completed. They also complained the project deadline was not extended and the price was not adjusted and therefore they have also stopped work on the site.

At present, the on-site work is halted due to off-season for infrastructure construction and the government’s failure in meeting the demand of the construction entrepreneurs. The Federation of Contractors’ Association of Nepal (FCAN), which has been holding protests and sit-ins at various public institutions, continued its protest on Tuesday as well.

On Tuesday, contractors demonstrated near the prime minister's official residence in Baluwatar with construction equipment and placards. Ravi Singh, president of FCAN, says that the protest will continue until the demands are addressed. Complaining about having to wait for months to get the payment for the work done, he said that there will be no working environment until the payment is done and price adjustment made.

"Now, the construction at the site has stopped. There is a program of protest until Friday,” he said.

FCAN has put forward the demand that the provision of construction work by the consumer committee should be abolished and that the public procurement act and rules related to infrastructure should be business-friendly.

On the other hand, in the meeting of the Infrastructure Development Committee under the House of Representatives held on Tuesday, Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Prakash Jwala indicated that he cannot extend the deadline.

In this regard, Jwala said, "It is not appropriate to add the deadlines of all the projects randomly. It is also not right to extend the deadline of those who do not work. The deadline is extended based on the progress and situation, but the builders are not satisfied. What is the meaning of extending the deadline for projects in which no work has been done and there is no budget? A separate solution should be sought for such projects. An extension of the deadline has been ordered based on progress. We are serious about payment.”

Answering the questions raised by the parliamentarians, he said that the construction workers are still in the movement and the main issue is payment.