Rs. 300 million needed to restore National Hydropower Project

By Chitra Mijar,Sindhupalchok, Aug. 29: It is estimated that more than Rs. 300 million will be needed to restore the National Hydropower Project damaged by the recent floods. 

The hydropower project of 7.5 megawatts, which was built with the investment of Nepali people, was damaged by the severe floods on July 15 this year. 

The flood damaged the structure including the switchyard of the powerhouse of the project. The station manager of the project, Engineer Basanta Lal Karna, said that the project is at high risk due to the flood water continuously putting pressure on the powerhouse and other structures.

The severe flood  in the Yangri and Larke three years ago filled the bed of the river which caused the flood to enter the project easily. But the heavy flood on the night of July 15 deposited large stones, soil and gravel to the powerhouse. 

The project is at risk due to the damage to the transmission line tower near the Melamchi petrol pump. There is a risk in the removal of stones, rocks, etc. 

Currently, the project is being operated under temporary management. 

According to the Karna, the project was closed for a month and had to incur a loss of nearly Rs. 22.25 million. Also, the part of the road surrounding the dam area has been washed away by the flood. Even now, the project has been continuously damaged by floods due to continuous rains. 

Engineers are still producing electricity by taking risks. The rock brought by the flood was blasted with gelatin and the water from the dam was temporarily introduced into the tunnel using an excavator.

Karna said that the immediate problem is the occasional flood entering the switchyard of the powerhouse. Due to the water entering the switchyard, the lives of the technical staff and other employees are at great risk to work there. 

Currently, the project is producing only 6.8 megawatts of electricity. For the time being, work is being done to control the flood of the river by installing gabion walls. If there is a big flood, the project and the staff working there will be in danger.