Rukum, March 23: The users of the under-construction hydropower projects in eastern part of the district have spent five million rupees to just transport materials for the projects.

Under the Rukum Ujyalo Programme, the Ranmamaikot, Hukam, Jang and Pwang are under construction and goods had to be transported from Rukumkot to the project sites.

The goods had to be transport paying expensive fair to Nepali Army helicopters after the contractor company rejected transporting the goods beyond the last point of road access, said Chair of the Tamagar river hydropower project, Puni Raj Ghartimagar.

The Jharlungari river project of 24 KW capacity is under construction in Ranmamaikot-4, the Tamagar river project of 81 KW in Hukam-7, Ghunma river project of 32 KW in Ranmamaikot-9, Ghumrighat river project of 32 KW and Tuwang river project, also of 32 KW are under construction.

The five projects had to pay Rs. one million each for transporting the goods via helicopter. The projects are said to incur a cost of between 5 to 5.5 million rupees just for helicopter fare to transport the necessary materials.

The HA Hydropower Company, that received the contract of transportation for all the five projects, reached the goods only up to Solanwang of Khalanga VDC. As a result, the local users were compelled to transport them from Solawang to the project sites.

The projects that were targeted to be completed a year ago continue to be delayed due to negligence of the contractor companies.