The construction of this project, which originally commenced in November 1989, has been affected by numerous problems following the abandoning of the construction work in 1992 by a French consortium after a tunnel collapsed and the tunnel boring machine was buried.
The dam, power house, and tail-race tunnel are all complete; the only work to be completed relates to the 10.58km long head-race tunnel which passes through a major geological fault zone. The excavation of the tunnel has been completed but considerable work by way of lining consisting of steel supports in areas of fault zones, strengthening weak zones and grouting in the tunnel remains to be done.
The remaining work is considered difficult due to the high seepage of water in to the tunnel through the fault zones. The Minister has directed that effort should be made to complete the project by 31 March 2006