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| New visa rules hit two major road projects in HP |
| Press Trust of India / Shimla Oct 27, 2009, 11:07 IST |
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The Government's decision barring foreigners from working in the country on business visa has hit two major road projects in the apple belt of Himachal Pradesh.
Under the new visa rules which came into force in August this year, foreigners are not allowed to work in the country on business visa and they have to obtain work visa for the purpose.
The new rules have upset two World Bank funded major road projects in the hill state being carried by China-based firm Longjian Road and Bridge Company Limited.Some 80 Chinese engineers and workers engaged in the two projects left India before expiry of their business visa on September 30.
The road projects are —Theog-Kotkhai-Hatkoti-Rohroo and Mehtapur-Una-Amb. The first one falls in the apple producing area of Shimla district and completion of the road project would have facilitated faster movement of the crop to the market.
The halt of the project has dealt a severe blow to the Himachal Pradesh government.
"We have taken up the matter with the Centre and also drawn the attention of the World Bank to the same", state Public Works Department Minister Thakur Gulab Singh told PTI today.
The two projects awarded in May and June 2008 were to be completed by November 2010. However, so far only 7-8 per cent work has been completed, official sources said.Emphasising that major road projects worth Rs 1,365 crore would have been beneficial for apple cultivators, the HP government has written to the Centre for either extension of business visa or grant of employment visa to the Chinese workforce.
Principal Secretary PWD P C Kapoor, who recently met External Affairs Ministry officials on the issue, said we have requested the Centre that if granting visa to 80 Chinese was not possible, they should consider giving the same to 10 Chinese engineers "crucial for execution of the project".
Considering the seriousness of the situation, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has also taken up the matter with the Centre, the PWD minister said.
He said if the matter is not resolved at the earliest, we would take up the issue with the World Bank seeking permission for cancellation of the contract to the Chinese company and giving it to somebody else for early completion.
A letter has also been written to the Chinese company asking it to complete their contractual obligation of completing the projects on time, the Minister said.Kapoor said the matter is under consideration of the Union government and they have assured the state positive action on the same.
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