Energy Minister Khadka orders acceleration of remaining work
KATHMANDU, June 4: The Sunkoshi Marin Diversion Multipurpose Project in Sindhuli has finished building its 13.2-kilometer tunnel. The contractor firm has been directed to expedite the headworks project now that the tunnel is complete.
Deepak Khadka, Minister of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, has ordered that the project be finished on time. Minister Khadka urged the contractor to expedite the work and guarantee the project’s timely completion during his site visit and inspection.
Now that the project’s 13.2-kilometer tunnel is complete, Energy Minister Khadka has directed the contractor company to expedite the completion of the headworks. In order to move the project forward, he has given the construction company instructions to adhere to a clear plan and work as per objectives.
The project will supply 10 percent of the total water for drinking, produce 32 megawatts of electricity, and irrigate 122,000 hectares.
The Department of Water Resources and Irrigation’s Director General, Sanjeeb Baral, underlined the necessity of moving the project forward to reach the target. The fact that only 19% of the headworks have been finished, when 50% should have been finished by now, worried him. The contractor should finish the job by the deadline, he urged.
Baral also warned that the contract would be terminated if the work continues at the current pace. He stated that out of the Rs 14 billion project budget, Rs 1.20 billion has already been mobilized.
Raman Patel, representative of the contractor company Raman Construction, said delays in payments from the department have caused some slowdowns in the project. He assured them that with government support, they would complete the project on time.
On the same occasion, Energy Minister Khadka inspected the tunnel, powerhouse, and headworks of the project. The visit was also attended by Ministry officials, including Joint Secretary Sushil Chandra Acharya and Mitra Baral.
Source: Republica
