| SMEC has also been closely involved with road
design, construction, maintenance and rehabilitation in Nepal with funding
from a variety of agencies. SMEC has therefore developed a range of
technical skills related to the creation and management of road assets in
the harsh Himalayan climate. All of SMEC's operations have been supported
by practical training both in Australia and in Nepal.
During the past decade SMEC has been associated in particular with
sustainable development of the Kathmandu Valley which is home to a
population of more than 1 million people which is growing rapidly. SMEC
has developed a drainage masterplan for Greater Kathmandu and has
investigated the options for additional water supply to the Valley,
especially from the nearby Melamchi Khola.
For several years SMEC has been engaged in the development of a private
hydropower plant on the West Seti river in the Far Western region of
Nepal, one of the poorest provinces in the country. The plant is intended
to supply electricity to India and will be the largest single foreign
investment in Nepal. The World Bank has commended SMEC for the quality of
its environmental analysis and community consultation in connection with
this project. |
