The reconstruction of the upper Trishuli -III A hydropower project that has been halted since the Gorkha Earthquake last year is likely to take place soon.

The 60-megawatt project had to be completed last year if the earthquake-triggered landslides had not damaged the project infrastructure and the roadway linking Simle, where the project powerhouse is located to the reservoir site.

The implementation of the project began with the loan assistance from the Chinese Import Export Bank which has agreed on the proposal of Ministry of Finance to extend the deadline for the payment of loan by the next five years.

During the meeting with the representatives of Finance Ministry, Energy Ministry, Nepal Electricity Authority and other authorities concerned, the Chinese side also agreed to resume the project. China Gezhouba Group Co., Ltd, the company awarded the contract of project development, is to resume the construction by the second week of December, Project Chief Phanidraraj Joshi said.

However, the government would release budget of Rs 610 million to construct embankment structure on both sides of the river where the project is based.

Earlier, there was an agreement to generate power from the project from July this year. The cost of the project is Rs 8.90 billion. RSS