News

TMO Helpdesk support to Sankhuwasabha
by: RAP 3      on: 17th Apr, 2019

As a part of TMO helpdesk support to RAP3 pilot districts, Assistant Engineer Janak Kharel visited Sankhuwasabha district from 7th - 14th Apr 2019 to support the Infrastructure Development Office (IDO), Sankhuwasabha in monitoring, supervision and payment of RMGs. 9 RMGs in 9 different DRCNs were contracted and mobilized from Magh 2075 (Mid-Jan 2019) by the IDO. Janak visited all the sites along with the technical person appointed by IDO for RAP RMGs supervision and provided on-the-job training to the technical person about work volume calculation, issuing work plan, monitoring and supervision of works and filling inspection forms. Also, The IDO was assisted to finalize the pending bills from the last three months and RMGs are expected to be paid within a few days. After the visit, it is expected that the IDO will run RMGs more effectively and smoothly in the coming days.

Monitoring visit of DFO to MHLR corridor
by: RAP 3      on: 16th Apr, 2019

Mugu Divisional Forest Officer, Mr Bharat Thapa visited Darkhe to Chankeli pass section on 4th April 2019 to monitor and observe the tree stamping work that falls under the Mugu Humla Link Road (MHLR) corridor. A total of 800 trees have been stamped in which 273 were stamped from Chankheli National forest and 527 trees stamped in the Chankheli Community forest. In the joint monitoring visit, Chairperson of community forest, DFO ranger, and MHLR project field manager, Mr Bishnu Ram Bista participated and discussed the stamped trees to be felled and the management of this task. As per the EIA agreement on Mugu side, 972 trees are to be cut down and plantation to be done at a ratio of 25 new trees for every 1 tree felled within MHLR road corridor in Mugu section. RAP3 MHLR has mobilized 4 excavators and started tree clearance work from Darkhe section.

MHLR public audit successfully conducted in Luma and Rugha village
by: RAP 3      on: 16th Apr, 2019

RAP3 MHLR’s first public audit was conducted by Local Road User Committee (LRUC) Chairperson with support from the MHLR team in Luma and Rugha village on 3rd and 4th April 2019 respectively. The overall purpose of public audit was to discuss and give feedback between beneficiaries, stakeholders, and project team on the design, delivery, quality of service, verification of payment received by RBGs and expenditures made by LRUC in different headings of the programme. In addition, the MHLR team also raised awareness among the beneficiaries about the essence of ensuring transparency in all activities and the importance of disseminating information and notices to the group in time. This meeting was also useful to increase the sense of ownership amongst beneficiaries and stakeholders. The participants were given sufficient time to raise any issues, misunderstandings, concerns, and queries they might have and the MHLR field project manager and site manager helped to clear up all the issues and queries raised during the meeting. The public audit meeting with all the beneficiaries and stakeholders helped to understand, analyse, and improve the social and ethical approach of the programme.

Local Swimmer: An Alternative Means of Transportation
by: RAP 3      on: 16th Apr, 2019

Transportation of heavy goods and crossing of Mugu Karnali River during monsoon season is impossible. Due to heavy snow fall this year, the river is significantly higher than this time last year and has already become very difficult to cross by tractor. The MHLR team had used the excavators to build up a crossing and tractors had been passing the river with construction materials for few days but this did not last as long as expected due to the fast raging river. Faced with the challenge of getting the project goods and materials across, the MHLR team employed the services of a local swimmer to cross all the fuel barrels and hill tanks with the help of around 150 metres long nylon rope. The swimmer swam all 75 fuel barrels and 7 hill tanks across the river by securing the container carefully with the running end of the bridge rope.  He took 3-4 minutes to cross each fuel barrel at a time. We are thankful to the local swimmer who is very familiar with Mugu Karnali River for helping us with transportation.

Capacity building of local people through jobs and opportunities
by: RAP 3      on: 16th Apr, 2019

As part of the capacity building of local people, RAP3 MHLR is hiring interns for the position of Junior Social Mobiliser, Local Technical Supervisor, and Junior store Keeper to be based in the district project office, Mugu.  Local candidates were encouraged to apply for the job positions and 14 applications from Ruga, Luma and Bama were received from which one competent candidate will be recruited for each position. The shortlisted candidates were invited for a written test on 8th April 2019 at three different locations: Malika School Ruga, Himodaya School Bama and Prakash School Luma. The result of written test was published on 9th April 2019 and the job interview was also scheduled on the same day.  Successful candidates will join our RAP3 MHLR team soon.

Support to DoLI
by: RAP 3      on: 15th Apr, 2019

With Federalization well underway, the Government of Nepal made a policy that “All roads connecting the Municipality/Rural Municipality center to Strategic Road Network (SRN) should be blacktopped”. In view of that policy and as RAP3’s support to DoLI, GIS based calculation of road lengths are being calculated. Provinces 1, 3, 5 and Gandaki have been completed till 12th April, 2019. An example prepared by DoLI can be seen on the map.

GPS Survey Update
by: RAP 3      on: 15th Apr, 2019

The GPS survey conducted in order to update the data (DRCN & PRN) of Karnali province completed on 25th March, 2019. By 9th April, all the 8 survey teams provided their processed data for checking to GIS Specialist at TMO. For uniformity, they were provided with a format for data collection as well as processing. As of 13th April, feedback has been sent to all AEs/GEs/Technician for correction/editing.  

Bikash Ko Bato
by: RAP 3      on: 12th Apr, 2019

Episode: 35                                                Broadcast: 14, 15 and 16 April 2019

Increases in the price of services provided local government.

In this episode we discuss the various services provided by local government and the increase in fees that are charged for them under federalism. For instance local governments are allowed to charge a fee for the provision of social services and vital registration services. Local governments can also charge for vital registration services including birth, marriage, migration, death and levy land or properties taxes. Charges can be made for the use of local infrastructure such as roads, drinking water, electricity as well as for services such as public toilets, parks, ponds, bus parks, drainages, bridge, waste management, sanitation and others. This episode explores local perceptions in Bajura, Achham and Dailekh about the impact these charges on people’s day to day lives.

Advance Procurement of Supplies for RMG / SMGs
by: RAP 3      on: 10th Apr, 2019

With a view to supporting Karnali Province in rolling-out RMGs and SMGs to non-RAP3 districts in the next financial year, the RAP3 procurement team has launched a new round of procurement for securing necessary supplies. These include: tools and safety equipment, first aid materials, safety gum boots in various sizes, and gabion boxes. RAP3 will be accelerating their normal efficient procedures as far as possible in an attempt to beat the end-of-year Governmental procurement rush. Key to this is the provision of a bonus clause that works by allowing Suppliers having ready stock for immediate dispatch, to bid more competitively benefitting both the Supplier and Purchaser.

MCC Nepal TVS project
by: RAP 3      on: 10th Apr, 2019

MCC Nepal TVS project, funded by Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC, US), is conducting a study for piloting a Full depth reclamation (FDR) on Butwal to Lamahi Section (128 km) of the East west Highway (H01). In this project, IMC Worldwide is playing an advisory role for the Millennium Challenge Corporation. For this study, Mr. Laurent Gunthier, stakeholder interaction expert, has arrived this Sunday and will be working in Nepal for 10 days. Mr. Abiral Dulal, consultant to IMC Worldwide and former intern at RAP3, will be working to conduct IRI survey and inspect the work of the Lab contractor working for pavement Investigation on this section of east-west highway for this April mission.