57 percent work on Upper Tamakoshi hydel project over

KATHMANDU, FEB 03 -

Fifty-seven percent work has been completed on the much-prioritised 456-MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project (UTHP).

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement the aforementioned level of progress was seen during a field observation of the project by a government’s team led by Secretary Krishna Hari Baskota. The project is expected to complete by mid-July 2016.

According to Baskota, the team was informed that Rs 16.29 billion has been spent in the project whose estimated cost is Rs 35.29 billion.

During the visit, Baskota asked project officials to move ahead with the process of acquiring land for the construction of the transmission line. He also directed the stakeholders to work swiftly, remain in continuous contact with consultants and contractor, and resolve issues with wise decisions at the field itself.

Talking to journalists, Baskota said the government will make sure the project will not face a budget and human resources crunch as it is one of the national pride projects. He informed the construction work was being carried out in four simultaneous phases — main civil construction, hydro mechanical equipment, electromagnetic equipment and transmission line and substation.

China’s Sino Hydro Corporation, which has been contracted for carrying out the construction of dam, intake, main canal, search track, penstock, underground power house and tail race canal among others, is expected to complete the work within mid-April 2015.

Baskota said 51 percent on the headwork has been completed, while 58 percent construction of the main tunnel has been over. Likewise, 77 percent work on the tail race tunnel, 90 percent on audit and canal, 98 percent on power house and transformer, and 98 percent work on digging transformer cavern has completed.

Source: The Kathmandu Post