Project Reports

• 14 members of staff remobilised after Dashain and 9 after Tihar, to resume work along the MHLR alignment. PST leads and field staff remobilised after Tihar and Chhath to carry out work in the Covid 19 response component.
• 6 Excavators mobilised in this reporting period, mostly for log-management.
• During the festivals, the assigned local staff cared for the field offices and stores along MHLR to ensure safety.
• The Independent Verification Team have completed their visit of the MHLR alignment.

• With the lifting of most travel bans, and securing permissions from the district and local governments, field staff have started mobilising to Mugu and Humla on 26^th September, taking necessary precautions. We have secured permission from the CDO, Municipalities and wards to resume work.
• Local staff continue to care for the field offices and stores along MHLR. Seven excavators are working on road widening and surface improvement works along with one backhoe and two tippers.
• 3.43KM surface improvement work is complete.

• The nationwide lockdown imposed since 24^th March was lifted from 22^nd July with precautionary safety measures in place including GON request to work from home where possible.  Inter district travel restrictions also remain in place affecting field team mobilisation.
• Local staff continue to care for the field offices and stores along MHLR. Some work activities (by excavator and S/RBGs) have continued under strict social distancing. Staff work and progress is supervised by the management through virtual meetings and electronic means.
• The Remobilisation Plan is being revised to reflect the latest Government instructions, DFID’s SEAH policy and Covid 19 SOP requirements.

This is the third trimester report of the MHLR project since contract signing (29^th October 2018) between DFID and IMC Worldwide Ltd for RAP3- Mugu Humla Link Road Project implementation.  The report covers the period of 1^st July 2019 to 31^st October 2019.  The report summarises the information presented in the project’s monthly reports from the trimester, in particular the key achievements, results and issues experienced.  It also provides additional information and data on the project that was not relevant for inclusion in the monthly reports, or which it is too onerous to collect on a monthly basis.

The baseline plan for physical and financial results is taken from the forecasts presented in the previous Trimester Report (March ’19 to June ’19).

• Snow still continues to severely impact on works progress, with limited activities being confined to lower altitude sections. 
• 133 S/RBGs and rock drill groups (64 RBGs, 65 SRBGs, and 3 drill groups) are engaged in structures work and rock cutting.
• 1 chainsaw group is engaged on Humla side for tree management.
• 12 Excavators are engaged in track opening and widening.
• Fuel stocks are approximately 30k litres.

• Field level activities have been concentrated in the lower altitude section on Mugu side as snow along other sections is too deep for safe access and working. 
• We have engaged with ex-RAP3 communities in Kalikot and Bajura to seek additional labour to cover the shortage of supply from Mugu and Humla.  Early snowfall means their mobilisation will be deferred until February / March once the worst of the snow clears.
• Two of the 11 excavators are no longer working – one left to take up other work opportunities, one contract was terminated by RAP3 MHLR due to non-compliance with the hire agreement and code of conduct (working for others while contracted by us and stirring up conflicting views within the local community).

• Site closed and field team demobilised for festivals.
• Internal workshop held 23-25 October:  23^rd Graduate Engineer’s workshop and annual reviews.  24^th separate team workshops (maintenance, construction, admin and finance) focusing on technical and management issues.  25^th full team workhop focusing on risk management and safeguards.  These included discussion on problem areas identified through field observations and internal audits, proposed solutions and draft action plan. Workshop procedings being drafted.
• Annual Environmental Monitoring Report submitted to Department of Forest and Soil Conservation and copied to Ministry of Forest and Environment, Divisional Forest Offics of Mugu and Humla  and Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment Karnali Province.