Melamchi Water Supply Development Board has shortlisted two companies to complete the remaining works of the much-talked project – that has become a national shame – that has been stalled for months now.
“Sinohydro Corporation and High Himalaya Hydro Construction Pvt Ltd have been shortlisted for the remaining works of the major water supply project,” the board said, adding that few companies had initially shown interests but only the two companies actually bid for the project.
“Four months after the works came to a halt at the project site, the government had announced a fresh bidding for completing the project,” according to deputy executive director at the Board Ram Prasad Kharel. “The contract between Italian contractor Cooperativa Muratori e Cementisti di Ravenna (CMC) and the government was terminated after a ‘financial dispute’ that has been dubbed as suspicious as the lawmakers in the parliamentary committee blamed the minister for asking bribe.
The government has decided to divide the remaining works into small packages and distribute them among various contractors, he said, adding that it will help expedite the project. “The remaining works were broken down into two big packages – headworks and tunnel finishing – and eight other small packages, which will be assigned to local vendors and suppliers who have earlier worked with the CMC.”
“We have a total of four biddings, two each from both interested builders for completing headworks and tunnel,” Kharel added.
After selection, the companies will have 15 months to complete the headworks and 12 months for the tunnel portion abandoned by the Italian contractors last December, which means the completion of the projects has been delayed by a minimum of one-and-a-half years.
The first phase of the much-talked about water supply project will bring in 170 million litres of water from Melamchi River to Kathmandu Valley.
The technical proposals of bidders have been opened, he said, adding that technical details are currently under evaluation. “Once the technical proposal is evaluated, we will forward our observations to the main development partner of the project Asian Development Bank.”
The approval of ADB is key to move ahead before the board finally selects the contractor.
“Sinohydro Corporation and High Himalaya Hydro Construction Pvt Ltd have been shortlisted for the remaining works of the major water supply project,” the board said, adding that few companies had initially shown interests but only the two companies actually bid for the project.
“Four months after the works came to a halt at the project site, the government had announced a fresh bidding for completing the project,” according to deputy executive director at the Board Ram Prasad Kharel. “The contract between Italian contractor Cooperativa Muratori e Cementisti di Ravenna (CMC) and the government was terminated after a ‘financial dispute’ that has been dubbed as suspicious as the lawmakers in the parliamentary committee blamed the minister for asking bribe.
The government has decided to divide the remaining works into small packages and distribute them among various contractors, he said, adding that it will help expedite the project. “The remaining works were broken down into two big packages – headworks and tunnel finishing – and eight other small packages, which will be assigned to local vendors and suppliers who have earlier worked with the CMC.”
“We have a total of four biddings, two each from both interested builders for completing headworks and tunnel,” Kharel added.
After selection, the companies will have 15 months to complete the headworks and 12 months for the tunnel portion abandoned by the Italian contractors last December, which means the completion of the projects has been delayed by a minimum of one-and-a-half years.
The first phase of the much-talked about water supply project will bring in 170 million litres of water from Melamchi River to Kathmandu Valley.
The technical proposals of bidders have been opened, he said, adding that technical details are currently under evaluation. “Once the technical proposal is evaluated, we will forward our observations to the main development partner of the project Asian Development Bank.”
The approval of ADB is key to move ahead before the board finally selects the contractor.
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