Chinese technicians of Kalanki-Koteshwar road project return to work

KATHMANDU, Aug 17:

Chinese technicians of Kalanki-Koteshwar Road Expansion Project have returned to work three and half months after the earthquake.

Technicians hired by Chinese contractor of the project have already arrived at the project site. Ashok Tiwari, manager of the project, said they are readying camps at different sections of the project. "We will resume works mainly on four bridges," he added.
A total of 16 Chinese technicians have returned to work. The project plans to hire laborers from the domestic market like in the past.

"Works on bridges at Manohara, Balkhu and Khasibazaar are in the final stage. We will soon expedite works on other remaining works," added Tiwari.

The project, which is being executed with Chinese assistance, has achieved 25 percent work progress in two years. The project is widening the Ring Road to eight lanes.

"There won't be any more delay," Tiwari said, adding that construction works will be completed within the stipulated timeframe of 46 months. "Most of the time-consuming works in bridge construction have already been completed."

Chinese contractors and technicians have returned home after the earthquake of April 25, leaving the project in disarray.

Redesigning road in Right of Way (RoW) of over a dozen places are in planning stage. Construction works will be expedited once the plan is approved, said Tiwari.

WORKS ON HYDRO PROJECTS YET TO RESUME

Work on hydropower projects being developed by Chinese contractors, however, is yet to resume.

Chinese workers had left the project site of around a dozen hydropower projects after the earthquake. Similarly, some had to be evacuated later on.

Access road to Upper Tamakoshi project site has not been reconstructed as the Chinese contractor of the project is yet to return to work. Similarly, work on Upper Trishuli 3A has also not resumed. Almost 80 percent of access road to the project site has been washed away by landslide. Likewise, Rasuwagadhi and Middle Bhotekoshi, which are being developed by subsidiary companies of Chilime Hydropower Company, are also in quake-hit areas. Work on these projects has been halted since the earthquake.

Except Upper Trishuli I, which is being developed by a consortium of Korean companies, projects being developed by independent power producers have not faced much damage. However, over a dozen projects in different quake-hit districts have been badly damaged.

"Upper Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project (45 MW) and Upper Mailung (5 MW) have suffered massive damage. However, rehabilitation works have already been started," said Khadga Bahadur Bisht, president of Independent Power Producers' Association, Nepal.

Similarly, hydropower plants with combined capacity of 80 MW are yet to resume operation following the earthquake, resulting to energy shortage. As a result, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the power utility, has to enforce load-shedding even during rainy season. Officials fear load-shedding hours will increasing if repair work on hydropower project is not started very soon.

According to NEA officials, works in Kulekhani III and Chamelia, which are being developed by Chinese contractors, are going on after a short gap following the earthquake.

Source: Republica