KATHMANDU, AUGUST 4
The government has been working to ensure the resumption of power supply through alternative methods in the flood-hit areas of Melamchi in Sindhupalchowk.
Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal instructed the concerned authorities to resort to alternative methods to resume power supply at the earliest.
A tower of 66-KV transmission line of a local hydropower project was damaged in the massive flood that occurred on June 15 this year.
Similarly, three transmission lines were swept away in the subsequent flood on July 31.
Furthermore, electricity poles in different places were also swept away by the floods leading to power outage in those places. Helambu, Kilau and Melamchi bazaar and their surrounding places have been shrouded in darkness since the twin floods.
Minister Bhusal summoned the chiefs of the concerned authorities such as Nepal Electricity Authority, Bagmati Provincial Office, and the Department of Grid Operation to her office here today and directed them to resume power supply.
During the meet, Melamchi Electricity Distribution Centre Chief Madhav Neupane shared that the floods had swept away the corridor of the Melamchi River and bridges. Furthermore, he said a total of 414 electricity poles were damaged in the first flood, while around 40 to 50 poles were wrecked in the subsequent flood. Power supply has resumed in Melamchi Nagar and Indrawati villages while Paanchpokhari and Helambu areas still remain without electricity.
Minister Bhusal has also instructed the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre to install solar energy panels in the flood-hit areas to illuminate the affected areas.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 5 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
