Construction of the Middle Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project (102MW), which was affected by last year’s earthquakes and flood, has picked up pace after the Dashain festival.

Half of the civil works at the powerhouse has been completed. Construction of tunnel, store hall and roads damaged by the floods has been completed, said the project’s chief Sunil Kumar Lama. “Construction of the powerhouse will be completed as soon as possible,” he said.

Civil and hydro mechanical works, which are being undertaken by a Chinese company, have expedited, he said, adding the works have not stopped despite risks of landslides on the Chaku-Jambu section of the Arniko Highway.

A subsidiary of the Chilime Hydropower Project, Middle Bhotekoshi will have a diversion barrier at Chaku and a powerhouse 7km downstream at Jambu village.

Sanjay Sapkota, senior civil engineer of the project, said they have also started tunnel digging works. “The works will be carried out in full swing after the Tihar festival,” he said, adding around 500 workers have been deployed for the works.

The power plant’s construction was initially planned to be launched in 2013 and completed by 2016 after power purchase agreement was signed with the Nepal Electricity Authority three years ago. But the completion deadline was later postponed to 2017.

The estimated cost of the project stands at Rs14 billion. Employees’ Provident Fund has invested 50 percent of the costs and Chilime Hydropower Company 38 percent.

The project plans to allot the rest of the shares to the district development committee, village development committees and locals of the district.