PM directs to complete Tamakoshi hydel project in time

Dolakha / Apr 11: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has directed the officials and stakeholders to complete the construction works of Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project on time, without delaying even a single day.

During his inspection visit to the tunnel and dam site at Bigu Rural Municipality-1 in Dolakha district on Wednesday, the Prime Minister asked the officials to perform their duty responsibly and assist in nation’s development process.

The PM said incumbent government would not give space to those working irresponsibly and carelessly. He also said that the project is bearing a loss of Rs 40 million every day due to delay in construction of 456-megawatt project.

Bringing together the Minister for Energy, Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority; the PM asked the officials to directly inform him if there were any obstacles in the project development.

Claiming that the current government has advanced in new styles for making the nation prosperous, Oli added no government agency would create problems in development construction works.

As the Chinese contractor company, Sino Hydro was delaying in project construction, the PM had also taken the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal for the onsite visit.

On the occasion, Chinese Ambassador Yu Hong expressed her concerns to the delay in construction works and promised to sort out the issue by holding talks with the key persons of the Sino Hydro Company.

Likewise, Minister for Energy Barsha Man Pun said that Upper Tamakoshi Project should be completed in the given deadline at any cost.

According to the information shared by the spokesperson of the project, 94 percent of the construction works of the project was completed so far.

Similarly, Chief Executive Officer of the Project, Bigyan Raj Shrestha, said supplies of the construction materials is a challenge for the poor condition of the road from Charikot to Lamosanghu.

Shrestha also said that the Chinese company and Indian contractor were not performing satisfactorily and urged the PM to resolve the issue through diplomatic channels sooner than later.

The construction works of the project was extended by two years due to Gorkha Earthquake and Indian blockade on Nepal.

The first unit of the project is targeted to generate power by the last of 2018 while all six units are expected to come into operation from mid-April of 2019.

The cost of the project so far has stood Rs 37.71 billion and the total cost of the project is likely to exceed Rs 49 billion, Spokesperson Ganesh Prasad Neupane said. RSS