Government Cracks Down on Delays: Babai Irrigation Project Terminates Aman Construction Contract
Babai Irrigation Project contract
Babai Irrigation Project contract
The project office announced the termination of its contract with Aman Construction Company. This action, signaled in a public notice, targets the contractor’s persistent failure to execute work, despite multiple deadlines and official warnings.
This move represents a firm response to the long-standing problem of non-performing contractors plaguing critical infrastructure development in Nepal. The Babai Irrigation Project contract termination is expected to pave the way for faster completion of the essential irrigation network.
Zero Progress Leads to Contract Cancellation
The project signed the contract with Aman Construction Company, based in Gulariya–5, during the fiscal year 2020/21.
The agreement encompassed crucial repair and maintenance of canals, command area protection, and various building maintenance tasks. However, the contractor’s performance proved grossly inadequate.
According to project officials, out of six awarded contracts, the company registered a shocking zero percent progress on four of them.
The remaining two contracts showed only marginal advancement, achieving 30 percent and 55 percent completion, respectively.
Project officials repeatedly notified Aman Construction to resume work and mobilize resources, but the company consistently failed to comply with these requests. Their inaction left key components of the national pride project stalled for years.
Ministerial Directive Driving Action
The strict action against the defaulting contractor directly follows a clear mandate from the government’s leadership.
Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, and also Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Urban Development, Kulman Ghising, issued specific directives to all subordinate agencies.
He instructed them to immediately terminate “non-performing and dormant contracts” that paralyzed key national projects.
Minister Ghising has actively pushed for increased accountability and efficiency in the execution of large-scale infrastructure projects.
This ministerial push has now manifested in concrete action at the Babai Irrigation Project. The project stated in its public notice that “Despite several public notices and reminders, the contractor neither mobilized workers nor completed work within the contract period.” This failure to deliver forced the administration’s hand.
Ramifications for Project Timelines
The Babai Irrigation Project, a long-running national priority, has faced numerous setbacks, largely due to non-performing contractors and procedural red tape.
These delays have cost the state significant resources and postponed the economic benefits intended for farmers in the region. The termination of the non-performing contract is not merely a penalty; it is a critical administrative step to regain momentum.
Officials confirmed that the contract termination process will now quickly initiate re-tendering for the incomplete works.
This procedure aims to select competent contractors who will ensure the timely and quality completion of the remaining tasks.
The project’s goal is to quickly bring the vital irrigation system to full capacity, securing water access for thousands of hectares of farmland.
This decisive action underscores a renewed government commitment to completing national pride projects efficiently and on schedule.
Upholding Public Accountability
This stern measure against Aman Construction Company sends a strong message to the entire construction sector. It highlights the government’s unwavering zero-tolerance policy towards contractors who accept public works but fail to execute them.
By actively terminating the contract, the project reinforces the principles of public accountability and contractual integrity.
The government is actively demanding performance and is prepared to impose penalties on companies that obstruct national development goals.
The successful re-tendering and completion of the works remain the ultimate objective, ensuring the Babai Irrigation Project finally delivers its promised benefits to the nation’s agricultural sector.
