Disrupted hydro projects resume construction

Lamjung, February 14

Work at various under-construction hydro projects, which were halted due to the shortage of construction materials and fuel following the Madhes agitation and border blockade, have resumed in Lamjung of late.

Construction of as many as six hydro projects has resumed with the availability of fuel and construction materials in the district.

Though the projects had aimed to generate 157 MW electricity within five years, construction work had been halted due to the lack of construction materials caused by the Madhes agitation.

Of the projects, construction of the 50 MW Upper Marsyangdi A and Dordi Corridor-based 2 MW Chhyangdikhola hydro project has reached final stage.

“The construction of Upper Marsyangdi A will be completed in the last week of September whereas Chhyangdi project is preparing to supply test transmission within two weeks if there is no obstruction,” said sources. The Chhyangdikhola hydro project executive director Lal Bahadur Thapa said they would start the test electricity supply within two weeks if everything goes according to plan.

The project was slated to be completed five months ago.

Meanwhile, construction of the 27 MW Dordi Khola, 25 MW Upper Dordi A, 3 MW Midimkhola and 49.6 MW Superdordi kha project is running smoothly. Construction of a 400-metre tunnel of Midimkhola and 50-metre tunnel of Dordikhola has already been completed.

Karna Adhikari of Sino-Sagarmatha Hydropower, the promoter company of Upper Marsyangdi A, said construction of the hydro project had been expedited with the resumption of regular supply of fuel and construction materials.

“If there is no fuel or materials crunch in the future, we can complete the project by September this year. However, important machines have been stranded in India due to the border blockade for long,” Adhikari said.