SURKHET, Nepal – The Karnali Province government has taken a big step by blacklisting Kanchharam Construction, a company owned by Purna Bahadur Tamang, a Nepali Congress lawmaker and former state minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation. This decision, announced on November 8, 2024, stops the company from taking new government projects for two and a half years because it left many projects unfinished.
Kanchharam Construction has been in trouble before. It failed to complete important roads and bridges in Karnali Province and other areas like Morang and Saptari. For example, a bridge project in Saptari, started in 2018, is still only 45% done, even after several deadline extensions. These delays have upset people who rely on these projects for better roads and safer travel. The Karnali Province government said enough is enough and banned the company to ensure better work in the future.
Purna Bahadur Tamang, also known as Kanchharam, is a powerful politician from Ramechhap. He was elected to Nepal’s House of Representatives in 2022 but was sacked as a minister in April 2025 after disagreements over a government decision. His company’s troubles have made people question if leaders should own companies that work for the government. “It’s not fair when projects stop, and people suffer,” said a local leader in Karnali Province.
The Public Procurement Monitoring Office, which watches over government contracts, supported the blacklist. It said Kanchharam Construction ignored warnings to finish its work. This ban is part of a bigger effort to make sure companies do their jobs properly. Other companies, 18 in total, were also blacklisted across Nepal for similar reasons.
This news has made people talk about how leaders and their businesses should be checked more carefully. The Karnali Province government hopes this action will push companies to work harder and help Nepal grow stronger.
