July 28: With the onset of monsoon in Nepal, floods and landslides have damaged roads and bridges in various places causing financial loss of more than Rs 2 billion within 18 days. A preliminary study by the Department of Roads shows that infrastructures worth more than Rs 2 billion have been destroyed since July 9.

Spokesperson and deputy director general of the department, Shiva Hari Sapkota, said that as it was a preliminary assessment and the cost of damage could increase.

The extent of damage to roads and bridges by the natural calamities has increased because of geographical structure and delay in rehabilitation of old bridges and roads. In addition, as the major highways are adjoined to rivers and run through steep slopes, they are prone to floods and landslides.

Sapkota said that Barhabise-Tatopani section of Arniko highway, Dumre-Beshisahar-Chame road section, and Beni-Jomsom road section and parts of Mahakali Highway have been most affected by floods and landslides.

“The loss is likely to increase as the rainfall is still continuing,” Sapkota said, “All division offices are ready with machineries so as to reopen the landslide-affected roads as soon as possible.”

He further said that it will take some time to repair the flood-damaged roads and washed-out bridges.

Critics say that the government only seeks immediate solution to this recurring problem instead of searching for long-term solution. The government on the other hand says it does not have other option besides removing the debris caused by landslides with machines and tools along the roads and operate one-way traffic during monsoon.

Former Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Tulsi Prasad Sitaula said that the government has failed to adopt long-term strategy to solve the problem of flooding and washout of bridges. He said that even if there are ways to control the damage, huge investment is required and the only option for the government is to work on the short-term solution.