Flood causes damage worth millions to Super Nyadi Hydro project

By Nabin Raj Kuinkel

Lamjung, Aug. 5: The flood in Nyadi River has damaged the under-construction 40.27 MW Super Nyadi Hydropower Project.

The flood in the Nyadi River flowing through Ward Nos. 6 and 7 of Marsyangdi Rural Municipality in Lamjung has caused damage worth millions of rupees to the under-construction 40.27 MW Super Nyadi Hydropower Project.

The flood with the heavy rains throughout the day on Sunday, has destroyed the project's structures and washed away machinery, tools and construction materials. 

The flood damage to the project, which has completed about 77 per cent of its construction, will delay production. 

According to Project Manager Bimal Dhakal, the flood has caused damage worth about Rs. 800 million.

The flood has damaged the headbox, powerhouse, access road, crusher industry, among others. 

In the area of headbox, four mixtures, excavators, 350 bags of cement, 70 tonnes of iron rods, diesel generators, compressor machines and crushers have been completely damaged by the flood. 

Similarly, landslides have damaged 15 places on the 20-kilometre access road to the headbox, while a large landslide has occurred in the penstock pipe and vertical penstock area, said Dhakal.

According to him, the flood has washed away 700 bags of cement and 150 tonnes of iron rods stored in the powerhouse area, while the access road has been completely damaged. 

Three tamarack machines, three diesel generators, two compressor machines and three store buildings have been completely damaged by the floods in the powerhouse area.

Dhakal said that the flood has washed away two Bolero jeeps, one excavator and one tipper as well.

The flood has also washed away a bridge constructed for walking. 

“We have estimated that the total damage is around Rs. 800 million,” Dhakal said, adding that the construction work of the project has been halted due to the floods and landslides.

The project is being jointly constructed by High Himalaya and Dhaulagiri Construction and Development Pvt. Ltd.

The estimated cost to complete the project is Rs. 7 billion. Six financial institutions, led by NMB Bank, have invested Rs. 5.25 billion (75 per cent) in loans.

Around Rs. 1.75 billion (25 per cent) of the total estimated cost has been managed as equity capital.

The project will generate 235.76 gigawatt hours (235.76 million units) of electricity annually. 

The electricity generated by the project will be connected to the 132 kV Tarikuna Khudi substation, 11 kilometres away from the project site. 

The company will build the transmission line from the project to the substation itself, said the company.