Assuring that it would deploy adequate
security at the Sapta Kosi High Dam
multipurpose
project site, the Government of
Nepal has asked India to resume work on
the 3,300-mw hydropower project. Investigation
works at the project site, including the Sun Kosi
storage-cum-diversion scheme, have been suspended
since May 2007 due to opposition from
local groups. Attempts were made to restart the
hydrological observation at Barahkshetra and
Chatra barrage sites in January 2009, but had to be
abandoned due to disruption.
Kosi river, called Koshi in Nepal, as well as Saptakoshi
for its seven Himalayan tributaries, is a
trans-boundary river between Nepal and India,
one of the largest tributaries of the Ganges.
At a recent meeting of the India-Nepal joint
standing technical committee, the Nepal government
informed that the process for erecting police
check posts at Barahachetra and Chatara were in
an advanced stage and necessary directives had
been issued to the concerned agencies for providing
mobile armed security during fieldwork.
The Sapta Kosi multipurpose project is expected
to be developed at a total cost of Rs 9,000 crore.
The first year's tariff has been tentatively fixed at
Rs 1.08 per unit. A major portion of power generated
from this project will be supplied to India and
will also provide irrigation and flood control benefits
to Bihar. The project is among four major hydel
projects proposed to be developed under the
India-Nepal collaboration plan. The other three
projects are: 600-mw Burhi Gandaki project,
5,600-mw Pancheshwar project and 10,800-mw
Karnali project.