Dam construction for Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion Project moving at snail’s pace

By Baburam Devkota,Sindhuli, Jan. 9: Dam construction work in the Sunkoshi River for the national-pride project Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion Multi-purpose Project has been moving only at a snail’s pace. 

 The Patel-Raman JV began the dam construction work in January 2023 with the aim of completing it within four years.  By now 42 per cent of the contract period has already elapsed. However, only 7 per cent of progress has been made, according to the project.

According to the project officials, at least 30 per cent of progress should have been made in the dam construction works to date. 

 Badri Karki, Chief of the Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion Multi-purpose Project, said although two companies inked an agreement to construct the dam, only Raman Construction has been working.

 “The work progress is very slow. So far only 7 per cent of work has been done which is quite insufficient,” said Karki. 

No permanent structure is built in the 7 per cent of work, said Karki.  “After discussing with the Patel-Raman JV, the company that won the construction contract,  we have concluded that the Raman alone cannot work. Now we are planning to cancel the contract agreement,” said Karki.

According to him, a process to terminate the contract has already begun.   “However, Patel came in contact with the project after the process to terminate the contract began. Patel said they would work and we are discussing whether we should give a chance to the contractor,” Karki said.  

According to the project office, work to build the permanent structure of the dam has not started yet.

 The construction company signed the contract for the construction of the dam for Rs.  14.075 billion.

 After constructing a 30-metre high and 158-metre long dam in the Sunkoshi River, the water will be released to the  Marin River at Kusumtar in Kamalamai Municipality-2 by a 13.3 km long tunnel. 

About 97 per cent of work in the tunnel has been completed so far.

Besides supplying water for irrigation, 31.07 MW of power will be generated from the project.  

After completion of the dam, 67 Qsec water will be released to the Marin River. 

The multi-purpose project is expected to provide irrigation facilities in 122,000 hectares of paddy fields in Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Mahottari and Dhanusha districts. 

Due to the delay, the total project cost has increased to Rs. 49 billion from Rs. 46 billion.