Work on Rahughat Mangale, Upper Rahughat Hydropower project gains momentum

By Thakur Acharya, Myagdi, Jan. 8: The construction of two hydropower projects in the Rahughat River flowing through the upper part of Raghuganga Rural Municipality of Myagdi has been accelerated.

Two years ago, Tundi Power Company started the construction of 37.5 MW Rahughat Mangale and cascade project of Upper Rahughat Hydropower Project with 48.5 MW capacity. The company has expedited the construction of both projects together.

The project site is located in Raghuganga Rural Municipality-7, Chimkhola, which is considered geographically difficult. The construction of the access road to the project site after cutting the hills, and the work of both the projects was started simultaneously. Indra Dhakal, engineer of Tundi Power Company, informed that the company had accelerated the construction of the tunnel, the structure of the head works at the dam site and the power house.

He said that the construction work had been advanced by mobilising about 1,000 skilled manpower and equipment in both projects. He said that although there are problems and challenges when constructing a project in a geographically difficult area, the construction work according to the target is satisfactory.

Out of the 5,300m tunnel of Rahughat Mangale, 2,400m of tunnel digging has been completed so far. "Tunnel digging work has been started from two audits. We have set a goal of breaking through the tunnel within next 11 months," said Dhakal.

The dam site of the project is at Bandighat, the border of Ward No. 8 Kuinemangale and Ward No. 7 Chimkhola.

According to the project, foundation digging has started for the construction of the power plant. Around 44 per cent of the project's physical progress has been achieved so far, said Dhakal.

He said that the construction has been accelerated so that the project will be completed within next 30 months.

The construction of cascade project of 48.5 MW capacity of Upper Rahughat Hydropower Project is also being forwarded.

Engineer Jeevan Lama of High Himalaya Construction said that the work of digging 3,100m of the 6,300m long tunnel has been completed.

According to him, tunnel digging is going on from two audits. The water coming out of the Rahughat Mangal Power Plant will be put directly into the tunnel of this project and the water will be dropped from a height of 362m to the power plant to generate electricity.

For the construction of the power plant at the bottom of Dagnam, cutting of the hill has been started since October.

Bhuvanath Adhikari, site in-charge of the construction company High Himalaya Construction, said that the construction of the structure of the power plant will be started after the completion of hill cutting work within next two months.

Engineer Dhakal of Tundi Power Company said that 37 per cent physical progress of this project has been achieved so far. The company aims to complete the project within next three years. For the construction of both projects, the project promoter company has signed a contract with Ramechhap Sherpa Construction, High Himalaya Hydro Company and South Asian Infrastructure.

The electricity generated from both projects will be connected to the central transmission line through the Dana-Khurkot transmission line of 220 KVA capacity.