SOLUKHUMBU, Jan 12: Works at the Solukhola Dudhkoshi Hydropower Project in Solukhumbu have stalled for the last three months after its Italian contractor abandoned the project site, according to officials of the developer company.
The Italian contractor – Cooperativa Muratori e Cementisti (CMC) di Ravenna – is the contractor that also abandoned its work at Melamchi Water Supply Project just before its completion.
Public relation officer of the developer company Sahas Urja Pvt Ltd, Kailash Niraula, informed that the contractor has left the project site in the middle, leaving the projects works uncertain.
The CMC staffers, who had left for Italy claiming to be on Christmas vacation, have not yet returned to Nepal to resume works.
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The company had put forward a proposal of project termination before its staffers tried to abscond the country.
The CMC, assigned the task of the entire tunneling work, has completed digging only 140 meters of tunnel.
With the staffers leaving the project site, all its heavy equipment, tippers, excavators, and tankers are left idle since the Dashain festivals.
Project officials said they were trying to terminate the contract with CMC as it has stopped working.
Project officer Balkrishna Khakurel said they were trying to award the contract to another contractor. However, it would be a lengthy process, he added.
Some of the completed works in the project site include workers' facilities, campsites, kitchen, and guesthouses.
Lack of electricity stalls bridge construction
Lack of electricity has hit the construction of bailey bridge over Benikhola in Solududhkhola Municipality. Indreni Dawa JV, the contractor for bailey bridge construction, has said that they have no electricity to use pumps to clear water from the pit dug for building the foundation. The pit is filled with water, stalling the construction work.
Local Beni Hydropower Plant has denied giving them electricity for the work, the contractor claimed.
“We are unable to clear water from the pit as the hydropower plant has denied supplying electricity to us,” Janak Shahi,officer of the construction company, said.
Shahi said the company needed only 3 kilowatts of electricity for the purpose.
The bridge is crucial for connecting Solududhkunda Municipality to Likhupike Rural Municipality and several surrounding villages such as Shalabeshi, Thupting, Chholing, Gumbung, Khamje, and Mopung.
