Chinese experts to return next week

Longjian director Liu Shujan met Public Works Department Minister Gulab Singh Thakur and said all clearances for granting work visa to 11 experts,including project managers and survey engineers,would be completed within this week.

The Chinese company has till now already invested $10 million,according to Ashok Rajan,senior advisor to the company in Shimla. “With the return of these experts,more money is set to come in as investment from China in order to speed up the work,” he said.

Of the first team of 11 experts,seven would look after the Theog project and the rest will be deployed for the Una project.

The company is trying to complete the projects on time,but may seek to defer the deadline later. “Depending on the pace of work in the next few months,we may consider getting another six months’ relaxation in the deadline,if needed,as the cause for delay (visa problems) was not in our hand,” said Rajan.

Only after the company starts the process of employing local labour can the fresh requirement for more Chinese experts be reviewed.

The state government has,meanwhile,asked the company to speed up the roads project and also assured of all cooperation.

In a statement issued on Friday,Gulab Singh Thakur said: “The work on these projects should be expedited in order to cover up the loss of time suffered due to the delay.”