September 12:  A group of unpaid construction workers of the Melamchi Water Supply Project have demanded the resignation of the executive director of the project, Surya Raj Kandel.

The victims demanded Kandel’s resignation arguing that they have not been paid even though the deposit of the Italian company, which left the project incomplete, has been frozen.

The local laborers, suppliers and subcontractors have been protesting against the project authorities claiming that the Italian contractor of the project, CMC di Ravenna, did not provide them their dues.

According to a sub-contractor, Buddhi Krishna Lamichhane, the victims have handed over a memorandum to the prime minister, Ministry of Water Supply, Melamchi Project and the local unit.

According to the Melamchi Water Supply Project Victim’s Struggle Committee, the unpaid laborers who worked for CMC owe Rs 87.4 million to the project. However, the government is planning to provide only Rs 30.2 million as relief to the laborers so that they can celebrate Dashain festival.

The members of the struggle committee remain dissatisfied with this provision of the government.

The ongoing protest by the unpaid workers has troubled the newly selected contractor, Sinohydro Corporation Ltd about their safety.