Minister Lamsal Orders Officials to “Break Legs” of Contractors Who Delay Work

Physical Infrastructure Minister Sunil Lamsal has drawn controversy after giving a harsh instruction against contractors who fail to work. During an inspection of the Nagdhunga-Mugling road project, Minister Lamsal directed responsible government officials to make contractors work quickly. While inspecting the road section, he was accompanied by the Chief District Officer of Dhading, the police chief, the project chief and other officials. Referring to the contractor responsible for shifting electricity poles, Lamsal told officials to find the contractor wherever he was and keep him at the site instead of sending him home. He then said that if the contractor did not work, his legs should be broken, adding that the public had suffered a lot and the poles needed to be shifted quickly.

Construction entrepreneurs have objected to the minister’s statement, saying that although it is natural for a minister to push the bureaucracy to speed up work, ordering physical action against contractors is illegal. An official of the Federation of Contractors’ Associations of Nepal said contractors who fail to work according to the agreement can be brought under legal action, but directing physical assault against them is condemnable. Dhading Chief District Officer Laxmi Pandey Gautam said the minister’s main intention was to ensure that road construction moves quickly and that there should be no delay from any side. She claimed she had not heard the statement about breaking the contractor’s legs and said the minister was emphasizing urgency because the road is a busy section.