SATV, Kathmandu, July. 14 - The tourism infrastructure development plan at the famous Rupse Waterfall in Dana of Annapurna Rural Municipality-3, Myagdi, has remained incomplete due to the construction company.
The rural municipality had started constructing tourism facilities at the waterfall with a special grant of Rs. 36.5 million from the federal government with the aim of attracting tourists travelling to Mustang through the Kaligandaki Corridor.
The project remained unfinished after the contractor failed to complete the work even within the extended deadline. Rural municipality Vice-Chairperson Diwa Kumari Tilija Pun said the project was delayed due to the contractor’s negligence.
“The project was supposed to be completed by mid-July. We repeatedly urged the contractor, but the work progressed slowly,” she said.
As the project was not completed on time, the federal government’s allocated budget was returned. Now, the municipality will have to manage funds from its own sources in the coming fiscal year to complete the remaining infrastructure work,” she said.
With the objective of developing the famous Rupse Waterfall along the Kaligandaki Corridor as a tourist destination, the rural municipality had signed a contract agreement worth Rs. 32.35 million with Sundar Nirman Sewa, Kaski, on June 12, 2024, under a special federal government grant. The project was scheduled to be completed by January 9, 2026.
After the contract deadline expired in January, the rural municipality extended the deadline for the first time until mid-July to complete the project. However, the work could not be completed, said the municipality’s sub-engineer Balkrishna Poudel.
“About 75 per cent of the physical progress has been achieved so far. The project was not completed even within the first extended deadline. Construction of stairs with railings up to the waterfall, stone paving along the footpath, painting works and construction of toilets are still remaining,” he said.
“As the project was funded under the federal government’s special grant, no additional budget will be provided for the remaining works. Therefore, the municipality will have to extend the contract period and complete the project using its own resources,” Poudel added.
The contract includes construction of a ticket counter, toilets, iron railings, stairs, footpaths and a snack shop at the waterfall. It also includes the construction of a park, round shelter and viewpoint at Baja Bajaune Dhunga, located above the Rupse Waterfall.
Vice-chairperson Tilija Pun said the rural municipality has allocated around Rs. 5 million in the upcoming fiscal year to complete the project.
Located along the Beni-Jomsom-Korala section of the Kaligandaki Corridor, Rupse Waterfall has become a major attraction for tourists visiting Mustang.
Infrastructure previously built at the waterfall was swept away by a devastating flood and landslide five years ago.
Rural Municipality chairperson Bharat Kumar Pun said the local government has been working to rebuild tourism infrastructure and develop the area as a tourist destination after the previous facilities were destroyed.
