By Belina Thapa, Lamjung, Mar 30: Construction works of all hydropower projects in Lamjung district have been halted for the last several
days.

Altogether nine large and small hydropower projects are under construction in Lamjung with total installed capacity of 202.17 MW.

Works of those hydropower projects have been shut down after the enforcement of lockdown to control the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

Workers involved in these projects are now in difficulty due to the shutdown of projects. They are living in a camp after the closure of construction works.

According to projects, supply of construction raw materials has been obstructed due to the lockdown.

Construction works of 54 MW Super Dordikhola Hydropower Project ‘B’, 25 MW Upper ‘A’, 12 MW Dordi-1 and 27 MW Dordikola Hydropower Projects based on Dordi Khola of Dordi Gaunpalika have been completely halted for the last seven days.

Similarly, construction of 4 MW Upper Chhandikhola Hydropower Project based on Chhandikhola and 30 MW Nyadi Hydropower Project and 40.27 MW Upper Nyandi Hydropower Project based on Nyadikhola have also been disturbed due to the lockdown.

Likewise, according to local people, construction works of 2.4 MW Upper Syange, 7.7 MW Midimkhola hydropower projects have also been obstructed.

Director of 25 MW Upper Dordi ‘A’ Project Rajendra Wosti said that the construction of the project had been halted when the works were about to end.

He said that construction works had been disturbed when 97 per cent works had completed and it was targeted to open by mid-April, 2020.

“Earlier, earthquake and blockade had hampered the works of the project; now pandemic of COVID-19 is also halting the project works,” he said.

Similarly, construction works of 12 MW Dordi-1 and 4 MW Chhangdikhola hydropower projects have reached the final stage and are expected to come into operation by mid-April 2020.

According to project administration, 85 per cent construction works of 54 MW Upper Dordi ‘B’ and 90 per cent works of 27 MW Dordikhola project have been completed so far.

Construction works of 30 MW Nyandi Hydropower Project was also disturbed for around one and a half months when Chinese workers who went home to celebrate New Year got trapped there due to the spread of coronavirus.

“The construction works had resumed at the end of February but it has been disturbed again due to the lockdown,” said Bijaya Gurung, public relation officer of the project.

Chief District Officer of Lamjung Laxman Bahadur Khadka said that construction works of all hydropower projects as well as other development works in the district were halted due to the nationwide lockdown.