DARCHULA, Oct 17: The foundation stone of the Upper Chameliya project has been laid on Saturday. Chairman of Marma Rural Municipality Jaman Singh Dhami and Api Power Company proprietor Indramani Trital jointly laid the foundation stone of the project to be set up in Ward Number 2 of Marma Rural Municipality in the district.

It is the biggest project so far to be constructed by the private sector in Sudur Paschim Province. The company plans to complete the project in 20 months, said Trital. The total cost of the project is estimated to be around Rs 7.40 billion.

File photo (courtesy: Api Power)

Six banks and financial institutions have invested in the project. At the initiative of Himalayan Bank, Employees' Provident Fund, Rastriya Banijya Bank, Nepal Bank, Nepal Bangladesh Bank and Century Commercial Bank have together invested Rs 5.18 billion- 70 percent of the total investment - in the project.

The project will have a powerhouse at Ghattegad of Marma Rural Municipality-2. The water current will be supplied from the reservoir to be built at Okhal of Api Rural Municipality-5.

After the completion of the project, the electricity will be linked to the Nepal Electricity Authority’s 132 KV substation at Balach.