13 hydropower projects in one rural municipality

By Thakur Acharya Myagdi (Beni), Sept. 4: About 13 large and small hydropower projects within Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality of Myagdi have started the process of construction.

The projects that have received permission from the Department of Electricity Development to operate electricity projects in the Myagdi river and its tributaries flowing through the foothills of Dhaulagiri Himalaya have begun the process of construction.

The total production capacity of those projects is about 238 megawatts. Despite the possibility of hydropower development in this area, the projects were not able to proceed due to difficult terrain and lack of transmission lines.

In the last few years, when the rural municipality and power projects started building roads and the electricity authority started constructing substations and transmission lines, investors have again initiated project construction.

Upper Myagdi of 37 MW at Mudi of Jeltung in Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-4, and Myagdi Hydropower of 57 MW capacity to be built at Dobhan in Mudi are constructing access roads.

After the completion of the access road, the construction of the project proper will begin.

After the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) started building transmission lines and substations in this area, the projects that have received permission have forwarded the construction process.

Although there is a good potential of hydropower development, the projects that have received permission could not proceed due to lack of transmission lines. Currently, the NEA has started the construction of a 132 kV substation at Malika Rural Municipality-7, Dandakhet.

The Authority aims to complete the construction of the transmission line connecting Raghuganga Rural Municipality-3, Amwang from Dandakhet and the substations to be built at both places within two years.

The hydropower projects to be built in Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality 4, Mudi have opened more than 10 km of road from Shivaratri river in Malika Rural Municipality to Naura via Bharwang, Kalleni, Chhahari, Khara and Khamla.

Hydro Empire Pvt. Ltd. Kathmandu has taken permission for the construction of Upper Myagdi Hydropower Project with a capacity of 37 MW at Dhaulagiri-4 Mudi.

Jit Bahadur Gharti, chairman of the project, said that after the construction of the access road, the construction of the tunnel and power house will begin.

Similarly, permission has been obtained for the construction of Upper Myagdi I with a capacity of 53 MW, Mudikhola with a capacity of 14 MW and Myagdikhola with a capacity of 57.30 MW.

Upper Myagdi Hydropower Project has started construction of site office building in Chhahari.

Meanwhile, Dordikhola Hydropower Company Limited is in the process of constructing Myagdikhola 'A' with a capacity of 23.70 MW at Dhaulagiri-4, Mudi and Dhaulakhola Hydropower Project with a capacity of 15 MW at Dhaulagiri-1, Gurja.

Everest Energy and Infrastructure Private Limited has received a licence for the construction of Mudikhola with a capacity of 14 MW and Susmit Hydropower Limited has sought permission for the construction of the Kunban Khola Hydropower Project with a capacity of 20 MW.

Darkhola Hydropower Limited has taken survey licence of 6.5 MW, Darkhola Small Hydropower Project, Simkosh Hydropower Limited of 3.45 MW, Simkosh Hydropower Project, Fresh Water Energy Nepal of 12.73 MW Upper Mudi, and Susmit Energy of 9.5 MW Myagdikhola B hydropower projects.

Prakash Joshi has taken permission for the survey of 4.6 megawatt Tirija Khola Hydropower Project in Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality 4 Mudi.

Municipal Chairman Prem Prasad Pun said that it is believed that hydropower development in Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality will take a leap after the completion of these approved hydropower projects.

He said that the municipality will facilitate the construction of hydropower projects without obstacles and create a comfortable environment.

He said that if the approved projects are implemented, jobs will be created at the local level.