A Nepal Army team has been deployed for repair works of the Upper Trishuli 3A hydropower project that has been halted since 2015 Gorkha earthquake.

The technical team, which includes 30 army personnel, will repair the access road and build protection on the either side of the dam of the 60MW project.

China Gezhouba Group Company (CGGC), the contractor for the project, had stopped the work after the crucial access road that connects the project’s head-works and powerhouse was damaged by the earthquake. The contractor has also demanded mitigation of landslide on the left side of the dam, stating a landslide would pose serious threat to the dam.

According to Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the owner of the project, the army is currently building a helipad near the head-works to facilitate the movement of people and construction materials. “The army is also opening a track leading to the landslide-affected area,” said Ambikesh Jha, site in-charge of the project.

Repairing the access road seems relatively easier for the army given its experience in track opening works on difficult terrain. But landslide mitigation looks challenging as it has to be completed before the monsoon.

However, the army has said it has manpower and expertise to undertake both the jobs. “The work looks very challenging, but since we have agreed to undertake the job, we will make sure it will be completed and handed over to the project,” said Brigadier General Tara Bahadur Karki, spokesperson for Nepal Army.

Although the project contractor was supposed to build the access road, differences emerged over who should repair it. 

The dispute was settled after the consultant for the project and an independent team of experts submitted a report stating the damaged access road should be rebuilt by NEA.

An NEA board meeting then requested the government to mobilise Nepal Army personnel to repair the road. Subsequently, a Cabinet meeting in first week of January directed the army to repair the road and mitigate landslide.