Construction works at Mid-Marsyangdi likely to resume soon

The construction works of 70 MW Mid-Marsyangdi Hydropower Project which has been halted since 29 Dec is likely to resume soon. The possibility increased after the discussions was held among district level political leaders, representatives of civil society and officials of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

A eight-member team led by Guru Prasad Neupane, member of NEA board of directors had visited the site on Thursday to carry out the study in details. The team comprising NEA Trade Union representative Madhab Khakurel and the leaders of CPN Maoist, CPN UML and NC (Democratic) had made discussions with district level political leaders, representatives of civil society and laborers on the early resumption of the Project.

DDCJV, a German contractor responsible for the construction of Mid-Marsyangdi Hydropower project had halted the works showing the cause as insecurity.

The counsel of the company had instructed to halt all the works to be effective from the last December pasting a notice on the main gate of the project office. The notice also stated that all the works would halt for the indefinite period.

The Project official had claimed that the decision to the effect of stopping the works was obligatory as the laborers threatened to take physical action if the union was not registered.

The works of the project was halted for 18 days around a month back following the trade union disputes.

The laborers affiliated to the CPM Maoist had pressurized the officials of the contractor company to officially register their trade union. Official of the projectclaimed that the decision to the effect of stopping the works was obligatory as the laborers threatened to take physical action if the union was not registered.

Repeated stoppages in the construction works have already doubled the project cost from Rs. 13 billion to Rs. 26 billion. With the latest stoppage, the project will not be completed even in December 2007, a date already 3 years behind the original deadline.

Construction works at Mid-Marsyangdi likely to resume soon

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