Upper Trishuli 3A uncertain

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    NUWAKOT, Oct 29 :

    trishuli3aThe Upper Trishuli 3A project has become uncertain as officials of its developer, China Gezhouba Group Company, are busy visiting power centers seeking extension of project term instead of focusing on construction works.

    As per the contract signed with the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the project should be completed by May next year. However, only 30 percent of the works have been completed so far.

    China Gezhouba had demanded extension of the project term and submitted claims for payment after the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) withdrew its decision to upgrade the 60 MW project to 90 MW.

    The delay has also affected a downstream project, Trishuli 3B (37 MW). Construction works on Trishuli 3B has not been started as it is not known yet when the Upper Trishuli 3A project will complete.

    Recurrent protests by the local cadres of political parties coupled with the government´s controversial attempt to upgrade capacity of the project are the reasons behind delay in Upper Trishuli 3A project.

    Though the government decided to upgrade capacity of the project to 90 MW on May 31, the government had rolled back the decision two weeks later following protest from all quarters.

    Locals say the company has started downsizing the number of workers at the project site. “We had provided our land for the project. Now it seems that the developer will abort the project,” Shesh Nath Bhatta, a local, told Republica.

    Saying that the project is needed for the country, local people have suggested to the government to extend project term. They, however, have stressed the need to monitor construction works.

    Source : The Kathmandu Post