Birgunj, June 17
The work of laying petroleum pipeline underground from Motihari of India to Amlekhgunj of Bara in Nepal has been over.
The project, a priority for both the governments, is the first cross border pipeline in South Asia.
The project office Simara has stated the project would be brought into operation after conducting a technical test in the immediate future.
Petroleum Pipeline Extension Project Simara’s engineer Sharad Paudel tells RSS that works related to hydro test, radiography of pipes joined by welding, taking xray at joints and removing the rust in the pipe through scan plast have started with the completion of the pipeline laying works.
Meanwhile, assistant conservation officer of Parsa National Park, Ashok Kumar Ram, says Nepal Oil Corporation has provided Rs 13.97 million to the park as compensation for the trees cut down for the project. This amount would be used for planting 147,200 new plants in five years, Ram adds.
The work of laying petroleum pipe along the 32.65 kilometre span from Motihri to Raxaul on the Indian side had been already complete nearly a month ago. The task of laying pipes along the 37.25 kilometre stretch from Raxaul to Amlekhgunj of Bara on the Nepal side has been over now.
The agreement to lay the pipeline was struck between Nepal and India on August 24, 2015. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during PM Oli’s India visit jointly laid the foundation stone for the Motihari-Amlekhgunj Petroleum Pipeline, from Hyderabad House of New Delhi.
The 70.2 kilometer pipeline project’s estimated cost is Rs 2.75 billion. India and Nepal had agreed to invest Rs 2 billion and Rs 750 million respectively.
RSS
