Construction halted at Arun Third Project due to COVID-19

KATHMANDU: Construction of the Arun Third Hydroelectricity Project has been halted due to the coronavirus menace.

The 900-Megawatts capacity project is being built in Sankhuwasabha. The Project Office here has said construction works on the project have been suspended after the government announced a lockdown on Tuesday to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

Indian construction company Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited is undertaking the construction of the project. Company CEO Arun Dhiman said the construction works on the project have been suspended since Tuesday.

There are more than 2,500 Indian and Nepali workers employed for the construction of the Arun Third project. Satluj Company is undertaking the construction of the project’s dam site at Phyaksida of Makalu Rural Municipality and of the powerhouse at Diding of Chichila Rural Municipality.

It is said 35 per cent of the construction works of the project have been completed so far. Jaya Prakash Associates, an Indian construction company, is constructing the dam of the project while another Indian company, Patel Engineering Company, is constructing the powerhouse.

The project is to be completed in five years at an estimated investment of Rs 120 billion. As per the project’s PDA, Nepal will get Rs 340 billion as royalty and free electricity in a period of 25 years.