Construction works partially resumed at the site of 456-megawatt Upper Tamakoshi hydroelectric project in Dolakha district after workers agreed to take back their protest programmes.

More than 800 workers employed at the project site had downed their tools 13 days ago demanding up to 500 units of shares for each worker. This had brought works at the site to a complete halt.

However, the workers agreed to return to work from today after the management of Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Ltd (UTHL) agreed to form a committee within the next seven days to look into the demands of workers.

“The committee will comprise UTHL officials, representatives of workers and an expert. It will submit a report within a month of committee’s formation,” UTHL Spokesperson Ganesh Neupane said.

Although workers yesterday agreed to return to their job from today, construction works have not fully resumed, as Nepali labourers, who were building headworks structures, remained absent.

“Only Chinese workers, deployed by the Chinese contractor, and Indian workers are working at the site where headworks structures are being built,” Neupane said. Over 400 Nepali workers are employed at the site where headworks structures are being built, according to Neupane.

“However, all the workers who were engaged in construction of powerhouse, digging of tail race tunnel and installation of penstock have returned to work.”

Sonam Sherpa, president of Nepal Electricity, Painter, Plumber and Construction Workers Union, which is leading the protest at the hydro project site said: “I think some people are trying to provoke workers there. I’m currently in Kathmandu and am leaving for Dolakha tomorrow. I’ll try to convince them to return to work.”

Many are now eyeing shares of the hydro project because it has already completed over 70 per cent of the work and many assume its share prices will go up significantly once its trading begins at the stock market.

But protests, like the one launched by workers, are expected to delay construction work and raise the cost of building the project.

The project, which was supposed be completed by mid-July 2016, had previously extended the deadline to February 2017. If project completion deadlines are extended in this manner, the project’s cost will inflate from existing estimate of Rs 35.29 billion.

The run-of-the-river project, being financed by domestic financial institutions and companies, is located at Lamabagar village development committee. The largest shareholder in the project is NEA, which has a 41 per cent stake. Other shareholders include: Nepal Telecom (NT) (six per cent), Citizen Investment Trust (CIT) (two per cent), Rastriya Beema Sansthan (RBS) (two per cent), public (15 per cent), locals of Dolakha (10 per cent), and depositors of Employees Provident Fund (EPF), and employees of NT, RBS, CIT and EPF (24 per cent). 

Published on: 27 March 2015 | The Kathmandu Post