KATHMANDU, Dec 19: The Ministry of Water Supply reiterated its commitment to complete the Melamchi Drinking Water Project within the stipulated deadline.
Cooperativa Muratori Cementisti (CMC) chief Cristiano Cruzo had left the construction work 46 days before the deadline.
The long-drawn-out dispute between the government and Italian contractor surfaced after the former seized passports of the contractor involved in the main tunnel construction of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project, putting the fate of the project on hold.
The government seized the passports of as many as eight officials including Cristiano Cruzo, chief of the construction site of the CMC after smelling a rat on their intention that they would go back home leaving the project incomplete.
The Nepal government and the CMC have been in a dispute over compensation issue for a long time. The seizer of passports fanned the flames of the dispute.
The contractor had been demanding a huge amount of money in compensation arguing that the project was halted during the earthquake and blockade.