NEA refuses to compensate contractor

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    Diversion Weir construction at right bank of Headworks
    Diversion Weir construction at right bank of Headworks

    KATHMANDU: Nepal Electricity Authority General Manager Ramchandra Pandey today said NEA has turned down the compensation demanded by the Chinese contractor of Upper Trishuli 3A Hydro Project.

    Talking to this daily, Pandey, who also heads the Generation and Construction division of NEA, said Northwest Hydro Consulting Engineers, the project consultant, had already rejected the amount quoted by the Chinese contractor.

    China Gezhouba Group Co had claimed Rs 8 billion from the country’s power-utility as compensation after the NEA board on Wednesday decided to roll back its controversial decision to upgrade the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydro Project.

    Earlier, NEA had decided to upgrade the project capacity from 60 MW to 90 MW.

    However, the decision became controversial as it would have escalated the project cost by Rs 4 billion and delayed the construction by three more years

    Further, the decision gave the contractor, which had completed only 30 per cent of the construction work in 25 months, a free run.

    Pandey said the division has already directed the project office in Nuwakot and contractors to speed up work to complete the run-of-river project by May 31 next year.

    “As work progress is below 30 per cent and the contractor has sought two-year term extension, the project can be completed on time if the Chinese contractor continues with the project,” he added. The four trade unions are heading for the project site tomorrow to take stock of project development.

    Source : The Himalayan Times