KATHMANDU, Aug 2: Government officials have stated that the civil contractor is responsible for repairing the damaged main canal of the Sikta Irrigation Project.
Officiating Director General of the Department of Irrigation (DoI) Dan Ratna Shakya said that as they have not officially received the project from Kalika Construction (Pvt) Ltd, the contractor, the latter should carry out repairs to the damaged canal.
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“We have not yet issued a ‘taking over certificate’ to the contractor; therefore it has an obligation to repair the damage on its own,” added Shakya. The contractor should do as it did with the damage to another portion of the canal two years ago, according to him.
The government has yet to form a probe panel. Locals say the canal was damaged because of inferior soil in the foundation of the canal.
Meanwhile, Padam Gurung, director for business development at Kalika Construction, claimed that they have already received the ‘taking over certificate’ and are not responsible for repairing the damage as the defect liability period had already expired.
The main canal saw a major breakdown while testing last week at a lower than full water flow capacity.
With the ongoing claims and counter-claims, it is uncertain how the repair to the damaged canal will take place. The irrigation project, upon completion, is expected to bring huge economic transformation in Province 5.
