KATHMANDU, April 29: The compound wall of 900 MW Arun III Hydroelectric Power Plant’s office in Khandbari-9, Tumlingtar suffered minor damage after a bomb exploded on Saturday midnight.
The power plant is scheduled to be inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on his upcoming visit to Nepal on May 11. A Project Development Agreement (PDA) for Arun III was signed with India's state-owned Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam(SJVN) on November 25, 2014 in the presence of then Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and visiting Indian Prime Minister Modi.
The Arun III project was canceled in the 1990's over environmental objections, misgivings over already high power tariffs, questions of whether or not such a huge project was needed, and the negative impact of the approach road. The World Bank withdrew its financing from the project in 1995.Yesterday, the 30th board meeting of the Investment Board Nepal (IBN) decided to award generation license for Arun-3 Hydroelectric Project to Indian firm, SJVN Arun-3 Power Development Company.
According to Police Inspector Bed Prasad Gautam, the wall on the south side is slightly damaged due to the bomb explosion.
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Gautam further added that the investigation is going on about the incident. At present no party has taken responsibility of the blast.
A year ago, Biplav led rebel party had taken responsibility of two explosions in the same power house office.
Megh Raj Tamang contributed for reporting.
