ADB expresses commitment to invest in Dudh Koshi Project

Kathmandu : The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expressed its commitment to invest in the 635-megawatt Dudh Koshi reservoir type hydropower project.

A team comprising the managing director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Kul Man Ghising, ADB Director General Ramesh Subramaniam and ADB-Nepal Resident Mission Director Arnaud Cauchois carried out onsite monitoring of the project.

The team inspected the reservoir area and the power house area. It also interacted with the people's representatives at Rabuwa bazaar of Khotang, the dam site. 

Saying the on-site visit by the high-level team to take the project forward is almost the last inspection, Director General Subramaniam shared that financial management is going to be made soon under ADB's leadership.

He pointed out the need to start construction of the project by taking the technical, environmental and social aspects to conclusion as soon as possible. The estimated cost including interest for the construction period of the project is 2.20 US Dollar. 

A total of one billion US Dollars will be invested by different international financial organizations under ADB leadership in the project. Of it, the ADB has expressed commitment of 550 million US Dollar loan investments in the project.

Similarly, ADB Nepal Resident Mission Director Arnaud mentioned that they have been actively working to accelerate the decision process and have been involved in talks with the Government of Nepal frequently.

He urged the local community to adopt forbearance as Dudh Koshi is a mega project and the largest dam project of the SAARC region so far.

The hydropower project is proposed to be built at Rabhunwaghat on the border of Rawabensi Village Municipality-3 Lamidanda of Khotang and Chisankhugadhi Village Municipality-6 Bhadaure of Okhaldhunga. The project has aimed to generate electricity by transferring water into Dhitung through a 13.30-kilometer headrace tunnel from a reservoir-based hydropower project to be constructed on the bank of Koshi in Rabhunwaghat of Lamidanda.

The dam to be constructed at Rabhunwaghat will inundate an area of 10 kilometers on the bank of Dudhkoshi towards Solukhumbu, 8 kilometers on the bank of Ravakhola towards Khotang and 4 kilometers on the bank of Thotnekhola towards Okhaldhunga.