KATHMANDU, Jan 25:
Officials of Budi Gandaki Hydroelectric Project Development Committee have said that insufficient budget and manpower crunch is delaying the detailed project study of the project.
Laxmi Devkota, chairman of the committee said, “Manpower crunch and insufficient budget is affecting the project as we are required to pay to consultant on time.”
Only Rs 260 million was earmarked for the project this year. “We have already released Rs 150 million to Tractebel Engineering, which is preparing the detailed project report. We were supposed to pay Rs 200 million to the contractor until December 31,” added Devkota. Devkota further said that the Ministry of Energy has not responded to their demand for additional Rs 750 million.
“Currently, manpower crunch has also affected decision-making,” complained Devkota. The project office has only four engineers currently. Project has forwarded the proposal for additional 28 employees including 14 technicians in the first week of December last year. But the energy ministry is yet to respond to the demand. We also need administrative staff to address the issues raised by locals apart from preparing the resettlement plan, said Devkota.
If everything goes as planned, it would take another eight years to complete the project. “I have targeted starting the civil construction works for the project within four years,” added Devkota.
Source : Republica
