Dhanushadham. The construction work of Sunkoshi Marine Diversion Multipurpose Project, which is seen as a sustainable solution to the problems of irrigation, drinking water and energy production in the Tarai-Madhes, has slowed down. Even after seven years of the national pride project construction agreement, only about 37 percent of the work has been completed so far.

Only 36.83 per cent physical progress has been made so far in the diversion project which started from sunkoshi river at Dhungerbans (Khurkot) of Sunkoshi rural municipality-8 of Sindhuli in Bagmati province. According to the agreement signed between the Government of Nepal and the construction company, the project has to be completed within 10 years from 2076/77 to 2085/86.

Although the construction of the 13.316-kilometer tunnel has been completed at present, the expected progress has not been made in other physical infrastructure and power generation works.

Chief Minister of Madhes Province Satish Kumar Singh, Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development Saroj Kumar Yadav and Minister for Energy, Irrigation and Drinking Water Shesh Narayan Yadav, among others, visited the project site on Saturday. The team reached The Marine Khola at Kusumtar of Kamalamai Municipality-2 from Dhungrebas (Khurkot) and enquired about the status of the implementation of the project.

Ashok Raj Gautam, senior divisional engineer of the project, informed that patel-Raman JV Pvt Ltd has started the work from January 1, 2019 as per the contract agreement for the second phase of the project and only 10.13 percent physical progress has been made so far. According to him, as per the agreement between the Government of Nepal and the construction company, the work under the second phase has to be completed by July 25, 2084. On the occasion, it was informed that the chinese company China Overseas Engineering Group has already completed the work of the first phase of the contract.

Chief Minister Singh said it was unfortunate that the project, which is considered important for resolving the problem, has been delayed at a time when madhes is facing acute water shortage. He said that a report would be formally prepared and informed to the Government of Nepal on behalf of the state government for the timely completion of the project.

Likewise, Minister for Physical Infrastructure Saroj Kumar Yadav said former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was particularly concerned about the project.

The project is being constructed at a cost of Rs 49.42 billion. Senior Divisional Engineer Gautam said that the target is to provide irrigation facility to 122,000 hectares or 183,000 bighas of land in Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari and Dhanusha districts of Madhes province throughout the year. The project will generate 31.07 MW of hydropower, he added.

After the completion of the project, an estimated revenue of Rs 10.30 billion will be collected annually from agriculture and Rs 1.55 billion from electricity generation. Of the total budget of Rs 19.33 billion, Rs 16.50 billion has been spent on the construction of the project so far.

Senior Divisional Engineer Gautam said that although some progress has been seen in the initial phase, coordination is being made to speed up the work as per the second contract agreement.