MoI to identify five multi-purpose reservoir projects
KATHMANDU, April 8 :
The Ministry of Irrigation (MoI) is planning to conduct a study to identify five multi-purpose reservoir projects in each development region in the coming fiscal year.
The ministry decided to include study of such projects in the coming fiscal year with the objective to have balance regional development. The projects will provide multiple benefits like electricity, irrigation, drinking water, as well as recreational water activities.
Pratap Kumar Pathak, secretary at MoI, told Republica that they were studying the prospects of developing multi-purpose reservoirs for overall development of rural areas in the hilly region. “We will identify medium-scale projects for electricity generation and to provide irrigation facility in dry months.
Also, these reservoirs will provide drinking water as well as help in tourism development through recreational water activities,” Pathak said, adding that such projects will preserve water sources and harvest rainwater.
Pathak said the ministry has already identified some reservoir projects in Palpa, Kaski and Syangja in the western region and Dang in mid west region.
According to ministry officials, they will study several projects with above 25-MW electricity generation capacity in hilly districts and five of them will be selected to represent each development region.
“Our study proposal will make it easier for National Planning Commission (NPC) and the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to allocate budget for the study,” added Pathak.
Officials say the proposed reservoir projects will collect water from small rivers and rivulets like the Kulekhani Reservoir Project and provide opportunity for development of tourism and fishery.
Pathak said they would mobilize domestic resources to develop one project and look for foreign grants for the remaining four.
The ministry estimates the project to cost Rs 5 billion each.
The study proposal says around Rs 1 billion is needed to identify the projects and conduct pre-feasibility stud of all five projects.
Third tender for Bheri Babai Diversion Project soon
KATHMANDU (REPUBLICA): The Department of Irrigation (DoI) is preparing to invite tender for third time for the appointment of consultant for Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Bheri Babai Diversion Project.
DoI had failed to get eligible candidate in the first tender. Similarly, bidders had proposed more than the estimated cost in the second tender.
Talking to Republica, Irrigation Secretary Pratap Kumar Pathak said they had invite tender for third time as bidders proposed more than the estimated cost in second tender. “We aim to appoint the consultant and begin works on DPR within this fiscal year,” added Pathak.
The project will generate 48-MW electricity and provide irrigation facility to 43,000 hectares of land in Bardiya district.
The Ministry of Irrigation (MoI) aims to complete construction of the 14-billion-rupees project within seven years of the beginning of construction.
The project will divert water of Bheri River to Babai River through a 12-km tunnel, according to a preliminary study. The payback period of the project is only 10 years.
Source: Republica
