By Our Correspondent, Okhaldhunga, Apr. 27: Work on the Solu Corridor Transmission Line has stalled because of the ongoing lockdown.

The nationwide closure has prevented the 132 KV project from bringing in the required materials, thereby halting the work completely.

Moreover, the project has also not been able to mobilise its 400 workers because they are all Indians and are viewed with suspicion by the locals.

Thus, because of these reasons, the project now looks set to miss its deadline of May 31, 2020.

“The lockdown has disrupted our entire work chain which, in turn, has pushed the whole project by at least a year,” said Project Manager Janardan Prasad Gautam.

Before the lockdown, the project had reported a progress of 85 per cent with 255 towers out of a total of 303 already constructed.

“But the lockdown stopped us in our tracks,” Gautam said, adding, “We haven’t even laid the foundations of some of the towers we need to erect in the community forest areas of Solukhumbu. We were about to do that when the lockdown was imposed.”

Gautam explained that they could only work in the forests during a particular season, a season which has passed. So, even if the lockdown was lifted, they would not be able to begin work right away.

“Therefore, despite our best efforts, we will not be able to meet the initial deadline,” he said.

The project is being constructed by an Indian company Mohan Energy Corporation which has requested the project manager to create a conducive environment for them to work.

The corridor will follow a 90-kilometre route from Siraha through Udayapur and Okhaldhunga to Solukhumbu.