Locals in the border area of Ward 9 and 10 of Damak Municipality in Jhapa staged a protest by planting rice directly on the severely damaged road, demanding its upgrade. For years, the road has been riddled with mud, waterlogging, and potholes, prompting local women, men, and farmers to carry rice seedlings and participate on site. By turning the road into a symbolic rice field, they aimed to draw the attention of relevant authorities. Despite repeated appeals for road repairs, no agency has shown serious concern, forcing locals to resort to this symbolic demonstration, according to residents. With the onset of the rainy season, the road has become unusually muddy, making daily travel difficult for the general public.
Farmer participant Nagendramani Nyaupane expressed frustration that elected representatives only visit voters during elections but forget their problems once elected. “We have urged multiple times for the road to be constructed,” he said. “We informed representatives at the ward, municipal, provincial, and federal levels. Yet, after years, the road remains the same.” Nyaupane explained that it’s now difficult to distinguish the road from a field, hence the rice planting protest. “It’s hard to take patients to hospitals, students are forced to walk through mud and often fall. We have heard many speeches about development but all we see on the ground is mud and dust,” he added.
Resident Suresh Dhimal stated the road problem is not new; locals have suffered for years. “During the rainy season it’s muddy, and in winter, it’s dusty. The road is so poor that at times it’s even impossible to ride motorcycles,” Dhimal explained. He described situations where children fall while going to school and elderly people are unable to walk safely. “We don’t care who builds the road, we just want it built,” he said. He criticized the constant blaming among responsible parties.
Padam Bhandari highlighted how the poor road conditions have made daily life extremely difficult. “We have been using this road for years. When it rains, it’s frightening to even step outside,” he explained. “Ambulances cannot arrive promptly during emergencies, and students risk falling in the mud while going to school.” Kedar Khatiwada emphasized that the problem with this road isn’t new or recent. “We have received repeated assurances, but nothing has changed,” he said. “We are citizens when it comes to paying taxes, but when it comes to receiving services, no one remembers us.” Veshraj Thapa called for elected officials to understand the pain of the people. “Our simple demand is a road that’s usable for walking,” he said. “Planting rice on the road today is not just our anger; it’s a serious question raised to the state. How long will people continue to suffer like this?”
The local community has warned that if immediate upgrading and paving of the road does not begin, they will launch a stronger protest movement.
