Construction of Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion Multipurpose Project starts

Kathmandu; The construction of the tunnel of Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion Multipurpose Project (SMDMP) has been started, only after 19 months of the government laying foundation stone.

The then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli laid the foundation stone of the project on March 4, 2021. It was just on Friday; the tunnel construction work has been started by installing a TBM machine. Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal visited the site on the day.

The multipurpose project will be constructing a 13 km long tunnel to supply 67 cusec of water from Marin Khola of Sindhuli to arable land in the region. Similarly, the project will also generate electricity from its constructed infrastructure. According to the project, a delay in the import of machinery parts affected the construction work, which was supposed to be started in mid-June.

China Overseas Engineering Company (COVEC) has been contracted to build the SMDMP. The Chinese company was also assigned the work of constructing the tunnel in the Bheri-Babai Diversion Project. The 12.2 km long tunnel was completed within the given cost estimation and six months prior to the given deadline.

The construction of the SMDMP is estimated to cost Rs 40 billion, while Rs 10 billion alone is required to build the tunnel, as per the agreement signed last March.

For the current fiscal year, the government has allocated Rs 2.71 billion for the Project that is expected to provide irrigation facilities to around 122,000 hectares of land in Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat and Bara districts. The project is also expected to generate 31.7 MW of electricity. 

Last year, the government spent Rs 2 billion for the SMDMP-related works. The land compensation has reached the final stage while the cutting of trees has been completed.

According to a study, a 12 meter tall dam will be built at the tributary of Sunkoshi and Tamakoshi rivers. The project has planned to make fall the collected water from the height of 66 meter to generate electricity.