Contract termination for Sunkoshi Marine Diversion moves forward

Kathmandu, Nov.11: The process of terminating the contract for the construction of Sunkoshi Marin Diversion Multipurpose Project with construction contractor, Patel-Raman JV, of Janakpur-9 Dhanusha for the supply and installation of civil structures, including dams (headworks), power plants, and gates, has been taken forward. 

Issuing a public notice today, the Sunkoshi Marin Diversion Multipurpose Project said that dam construction on the Sunkoshi River is moving at a very slow pace, just about 10 per cent at its best, even though 62 per cent of the contract periods have ended with no intention of accelerating the progress. 

 There have been no initiatives to upgrade the already sluggish construction, even after issuing notices of alert. 

The process of confiscating bank guarantees worth Rs 3.6 billion, including Rs 2.4 billion deposited and Rs 1.2 billion in advance payments, has also been taken forward.

On January 25, 2023, the Patel-Raman JV signed a contract to construct a dam on the Sunkoshi River, aiming to complete the work within four and a half years, in the year 2028

So far, an amount of Rs 2.14 billion (about 15 percent) has been paid.

After noticing an unnatural delay in the construction of the project,  Minister for Urban Development, Kulman Ghising, held discussions with the Secretary of the Ministry, the Director General of the Irrigation Department, the project chief, consultants, and construction entrepreneurs on October 23.

The contract aimed to build a 30-meter-high, 158-meter-long dam on the Sunkoshi River, through which water will flow to the Marin stream in Kamalamai Municipality-2, Kusumtar, via a 13.3-kilometer-long tunnel. The project plans to generate 31.07 megawatts of electricity by releasing water through a 66.29-meter head via the tunnel.

Minister Ghising said that there is no alternative than to step in new way saying that that projecvt got stranded because of failing of building dam, power house and other structures. Only tunnel construction has been completed so far. 

The Patel-Raman JV signed a contract to construct the dam for Rs 14.76 billion (including taxes).Patel-Raman JV had quoted an amount about 32 percent less than the estimated cost.

The 13.3-kilometer tunnel of the project was dug using a boring machine. The tunnel was broken open on April 26, 2081.

The tunnel was inaugurated on 26 Baisakh 2081. The water of the Sunkoshi River, located on the border of Sindhuli and Ramechhap, will be dammed and pumped to the Khasali Bagmati Irrigation Project through a tunnel in the Marin River.

The goal is to provide year-round irrigation facilities to a total of 122,000 hectares of land in Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, and Bara, including the 45,600 hectares of land currently irrigated.

The project located in Sindhuli and Ramechhap districts aims to divert water from the Sunkoshi River to the Marin Khola, a tributary of the Bagmati River, and augment discharge into the Bagmati Irrigation Canal to irrigate an additional 122,000 hectares of land in the Tarai while generating 28.62 megawatts of electricity.