The repair works of the access road and construction of the embankment at the sideways of the dam of Upper Trishuli 3A hydropower project has gathered momentum recently. The Nepal Army team that was deployed for repair works at the 60 MW hydropower project is on track to complete the repair work before the monsoon, according to Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the owner of the project. 

The technical team of Nepal Army, which includes 30 army personnel, was assigned to repair the access road and reinforce the sides of the dam of the 60MW project which was damaged by the 2015 earthquakes. 

“Currently, they are working at some of the critical sections of the access road damaged by the earthquakes,” said Ambikesh Jha, site in-charge of the project. “They are removing the large boulders that tumbled to the road during the landslide triggered by the earthquakes. It is a difficult task in dangerous terrain and it will take some time.” After removing the boulder, they will construct retention walls to make the road stronger, Jha added.  

The army has already completed the construction of a helipad near the head-works to facilitate the movement of people and construction materials. It has also opened up a track leading to the landslide-affected area nearby the sideways of the dam. 

China Gezhouba Group Company (CGGC), the contractor for the project, had stopped the work after the crucial access road that connects the project’s head-works and powerhouse was damaged by the earthquake. The contractor had also demanded mitigation of landslide threats on both sides of the dam, stating a landslide would pose a serious threat to the dam.

Army team is planning to mitigate the landslide by netting and fencing the area with special types of wires. “Once the netting and fencing of the area is done, it will prevent further landslides,” said Jha. “They are importing such wires and other equipments required from different countries. They will begin the mitigation of the landslide once the equipment arrive.”

If the repair work continues at its current pace, the army team will complete its job before the monsoon, Jha added. 

Although the project contractor was supposed to build the access road for the project, differences emerged over who should repair it. The dispute was settled after the consultant for the project and an independent team of experts submitted a report stating the damaged access road should be rebuilt by NEA.

An NEA board meeting then requested the government to mobilise Nepal Army personnel to repair the road. Subsequently, a Cabinet meeting in first week of January directed the army to repair the road and mitigate the threat of landslides. By the first week of February, the army team was deployed at the site for the repair works.