TANAHUN, DEC 24 – With the Tanahu Hydropower Project in limbo as the Energy Ministry and the donor the Asian Development Bank (ADB) argue over the appointment of a consultant, worried locals have demanded that the scheme be implemented as soon as possible.
The future of the 140 MW project was thrown into uncertainty after the Energy Ministry cancelled the consultant appointment process expressing disagreement with the ADB’s choice of candidate.
The ADB had selected a joint venture company of Lahmeyer International of Germany and Manitoba Hydro of Canada, but the Energy Ministry preferred Kansai Electric Power Company of Japan.
Meanwhile, the Tanahu Hydropower Project has conducted a rock test at the project site at Kahushivapur, Byas.
A motorable bridge has also been constructed over the Seti River. About Rs 30 million has been distributed as compensation for the land acquired for the project.
Baikuntha Mishra, general secretary of the Tanahu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the project’s future should not be hampered due to the tug-of-war between the energy and finance ministers.
Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat supports the ADB’s selection.
“The project’s implementation should not be hindered due to this,” Mishra said. He added that locals would go for agitation if the project was not implemented.
The Nepal Student’s Union, the student wing of the Nepali Congress party at Adikabi Bhanubhakta Campus took out a rally on Monday demanding that efforts to prevent the project’s implementation be stopped.
Project chief Sunil Kumar Dhungel said that they had not been informed about the latest development regarding the project. “As the initial work of the project has moved ahead, it should not be stopped,” he added.
Source : The Kathmandu Post
