Authorities have arrested two contractors in Sindhupalchok and Mugu districts as part of the Home Ministry’s crackdown against non-performing and under-performing contractors.

The District Police Office, Sindhupalchok, on Wednesday detained Dharma Raj Bhandari, whose firm was contracted to repair the 25 km Khadichaur-Jiri road, from Chautara. The proprietor of Khimti Construction Company, Bhandari had fled without completing the project. Superintendent of Police Mohan Prasad Pokharel said they arrested Bhandari for failing to deliver on the contract that required his company to complete the project a year ago.

Bhandari had gone out of contact four months ago after completing only half of the work. In Mugu, police arrested Barma Jung Bam of Rashmi Construction Service at the instruction of the District Administration Office (DAO) on Tuesday.

Police apprehended Bam from Jumla after his company failed to gravel the 9 km Gamgadhi-Rara Airport road. Bam’s firm had won the contract for the Rs3.8 million project that was to be completed by June 13, 2017. Chief District Officer (CDO) Umakanta Adhikari said Bam was detained because he was liable for non-performance on the contract. Bam is also accused of failing to complete the construction of the Khallagad Bridge in Kalikot district.

Meanwhile, the DAO, Achham, has send the names and details of the contractors to the Home Ministry for failing to meet the deadlines of several projects.

CDO Krishna Prasad Acharya said that the details of eight contractors who failed to complete the construction of eight road and two bridge projects had been sent to the ministry.

The DAO, Doti, is also collecting the details of the non-performing and under-performing contractors. CDO Birendra Kumar Yadav said the office was assessing the progress of the development projects that were under way in the district.