Works have started at the under-construction Arun Third Hydroelectricity Project in Sankhuwasabha district.

The project’s works were halted due to the lockdown announced to prevent COVID-19 pandemic. The 900-Megawatts capacity project is situated at Makalu and Chichila rural municipalities.

Construction works have been resumed after the district administration permitted for the same on the condition that adequate safety measures against coronavirus would be made and no new workers would be hired, said the Chief District Officer, Jeevan Prasad Dulal.

Executive director of the construction company Arun Dhiman said construction works were halted due to the lockdown and now they have been resumed after reaching an understanding with the district administration not to recruit new workers and only the workers available at the project be mobilised.

Some 1,500 workers available at the project have started the works. Before the lockdown, there were around 3,000 workers and most of them went home due to the Covid-19 fears. A majority of the workers is said to be Indian nationals.

It is said since a majority of the workers are from districts other than Sankhuwasabha and from India, they cannot go home during the lockdown. The Indian construction company Sataluj is constructing the peoject.