Construction works begin for 180-MW capacity Kaligandaki Gorge Hydropower Project

Myagdi, June 9: Construction works began for the 180-Megawatt Kaligandaki George Hydropower Project based in Myagdi district.

Project promoter Kaligandaki Gorge Hydropower Pvt Ltd launched the construction of a tunnel for the undertaking at Bhalebas of Annapurna rural municipality-4 on Monday. According to project director Raman Singh, the project is expected to complete by the next four years.  

Its tunnel will be 5. 6-km long.  A powerhouse has been proposed at Gharap of Annapurna Rural Municipality-4, while and a barrage will be built at Ghansama of Thasang Rural Municipality-4.  A civil contractor, South Asian Infrastructure, has been already been mobilized in the respective sites. The run-of-the river project includes a one km penstock pipeline, project Chief Singh said. 

Similarly, the height of an outlet from the power house will be 480-m. Preparations of offices for the promoter company, contractors, the Nepali Army, residential buildings, an explosive devices storage facility have neared the final phase. 

An 8-km access road has already been constructed. Efforts are on to fix a bailey bridge at Gadpar to facilitate access to the project site. A 220-kV transmission line with one kilometer length, stretching from Gharap to Dana has been built, and the electricity to be generated from the project will be connected to the central transmission grid.

 The development of the project is estimated to cost Rs 40 billion, which is being financed by Laxmi Sunrise Bank, Himalayan Bank and Prabhu Bank under the leadership of Global IME Bank.

Locals from the affected areas will be entitled to 10 percent of the project's shares, according to the project officials. (RSS)