The management of Punatsangchu I and II Hydroelectric Project Authorities will soon submit a proposal to the Ministry of Economic Affairs to resume critical construction works at the project sites. Today, due to the nationwide lockdown, major works in the two projects have come to a standstill.
The project sites, otherwise astir with deafening activities, are unusually silent these days. With approval from the COVID-19 Task Force of Wangdue Phodrang, only emergency and essential works such as concrete curing, dewatering from underground project structures, maintenance of electricity and illumination, and water supply are carried out.
According to Naveen Chander Bansal, the Managing Director of PHPA – I, the suspension of works during the lockdown will not have any major adverse impact on the overall completion of the project.
“As of date, there is a slippage of the day-to-day activities on the ongoing work fronts, which can be recovered once the situation gets normal both in Bhutan and the world over. We are hopeful that we will return back to normal life soon. We should be able to retrieve the slippages on account of COVID-19 pandemic once the situation becomes normal by pursuing various majors,” he said.
Similarly, the management of PHPA-II believes the lockdown will not affect the overall progress of the project. They are, however, preparing a detailed way forward plan in case the lockdown extends.
Despite no major negative impacts, the management of both the projects is looking forward to resuming the critical works.
Recently, the hydropower projects in the country that are under construction had a virtual meeting with the Economic Affairs Minister regarding the possibilities of reopening critical works of the projects.
“It was decided that the project management will submit their proposal to resume the works in critical work fronts in self-contained mode to concerned authorities for their consideration. It was also decided that the sample testing will be carried out by the health officials of the workmen at the site, so as to ensure that the manpower deployed are working in a COVID-19 free environment,” he added.
The Managing Director added, for now, transportation of construction materials have come to a halt as well. However, if the approval is granted to resume normal works, PHPA-I has the materials in stock.
“Under the leadership of the Druk Gyalpo and blessing from the Je Khenpo we are very hopeful that prevailing conditions will improve and lockdown will be lifted very soon enabling us to work normally as in the past,” he said.
At the same time, for PHPA II, a consignment containing urgently required materials and 10 truckloads of other construction materials reached Jaigaon and are waiting for customs clearances and other permits.
As of July this year, both PHPA I and II achieved over 85 per cent of the overall construction works.
Changa Dorji
