Daikundi residents want half-completed projects finished

NEILI (Pajhwok): Central Daikundi province has long been neglected with regard to infrastructure projects, while some infrastructure projects that were initiated in the past remain incomplete, residents said on Monday.

The residents ask the government to finish the half-completed projects and launch more development projects in the province.

However, local officials say work on half-completed projects in Daikundi will be launched this year.

Naz Mohammad, a resident, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the previous government paid no attention to Daikundi and did not implement any infrastructure projects.

He said many accidents occurred on Daikundi roads because of their bad condition, but the previous government paid no attention despite people’s requests.

The Neili-Bamyan road’s asphalt work was launched after years of people’s demand, but it was left incomplete.

He said if this project was completed, it would resolve many problems of the people.

Naz urged the government to complete the road project on a priority basis.

Tawfiq, another resident, said it was painful to see the deteriorated condition of the road in Neili city, lashing out at the previous government for not completing the important project.

“The government of Islamic Emirate must consider the needs of the nation and meet them.”

He also called the road construction project one of the urgent needs of the people, it must be completed.

However,  Public Works Department officials said they had not received orders to resume work on incomplete projects because all contracts were signed in the Ministry of Public Works (MoPW) in Kabul.

Lal Mohammad Yousufi, acting head of Public Works Department of Daikundi, said 70 percent asphalt work of the road inside Nieli city and 20 kilometers portion of the Neili-Bamyan highway had been completed

“The contracts of such projects are usually signed in Kabul and I do not have any more information about the resumption of work on these projects,” Yousufi said.

While officials of some private construction companies said their companies facing the threat of being closed due to lack of projects.

Engineer Anwar, head of Hojjat Construction company, said as there were no development projects, he closed his office.

Anwar said: “The private construction companies suffered a lot of financial losses; our payments are pending while some companies sold their own properties to pay their debts and others are still in debt”.

He urged the government to pay the outstanding amounts to the private companies.

But Sayed Mustafa Salih, head of Information and Culture department, said the government was committed to resuming work on half-completed projects.

The government will begin work on projects that are 80 percent completed and then on 50 percent completed projects and all the projects will be completed soon, he added.

He added the provincial administration will take measures to pay the private companies their debts in near future.

He said every province has a share in the development budget; such development projects will be implemented in Daikundi as well during the current solar year.

Daikundi is one of the mountainous provinces of the country where residents believe the province has been paid less attention for its development.

aw/ma