POKHARA, May 14:
The Upper Madi Hydropower Project is mulling over changing alignment of the tunnel following a fatal landslide inside the tunnel.
Three workers were killed and over a dozen people were trapped in the tunnel for many hours due to landslide around two weeks ago.
Technicians have suggested to the project to change alignment in the tunnel head section where landslides occur frequently. The 25-megawatt capacity project had invited Chinese technicians to assess geological study of the entry points of the tunnel.
Ram Raj Koirala, coordinator of the project, said they were thinking of shifting the entry point of the tunnel 10 meters down from the existing design as per the suggestion of the technicians. “We, however, are yet to receive detailed report from the technicians,” he added.
The project is a joint venture between a Nepali company and China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE). The Nepali company holds 20 percent stake in the company while the remaining shares are held by CWE.
The estimated cost of the project is Rs 6.5 billion. Construction works started in January 2013. According to Koirala, around 50 percent of construction works have been completed so far.
Source : Republica
