Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has remarked that the government is committed to complete the work of Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project within the stipulated time. PM Oli directed the concerned stakeholders to directly inform him if there was any delay or negligence on the part of government bodies.

PM Oli, who arrived here to inspect the project in Lamabagar of Dolakha district, said he wouldn’t allow the project to be delayed and complete the work within the deadline.

“None of the government bodies can delay the national pride project. The government will take immediate action against those responsible for delaying the work,” he said.

Saying that the current government under his leadership has adopted the policy to avoid delay, PM Oli underscored the need to take ahead the project without delaying it for one single day. He said the government will suffer a loss of Rs 40 million if the project is delayed by a day.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the project, Bigyan Prasad Shrestha ruled out the possibility of completing the project on time owing to various reasons including delay in exchanging US dollar, and bad condition of roads because of upgradation of Jiri-Lamosangu road.

Energy Minister Barsa Man Pun expressed his confidence that the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project would be the first national pride project to come into operation.

CEO Shrestha said the completion deadline of the project that began in 2010 will be pushed back due to various reasons such as the earthquake, economic blockade, delay in the supply of explosives, and mistake in design.

The Dolakha-based 456-megawatt project had started tunnel excavation works before the 2015 earthquakes. However, the disaster, which was followed by Indian trade blockade, delayed tunnel construction works.

The national pride project was originally scheduled to be completed in mid-July 2016, but was delayed due to various technical and social issues.

With the completion of 94.04 percent of the work, the project has spent Rs 37.71 billion. The project being constructed by Chinese company Syno-Hydro Corporation should be completed by 2019.

Before the earthquake hit the country, the project had completed 79 percent of the civil works. It faced cost overruns due to the delays.

A team comprising Prime Minister Oli, Energy Minister Pun and Chinese Ambassador to Nepal arrived here to take stock of the project status. He will return after visiting the project dam built at Lamabagar.