11 mini hydro projects in Dhading damaged

DHADING, JULY 29: 

As many as 2,000 households have been deprived of electricity after incessant rainfall-triggered landslip and floods damaged 11 mini hydro projects in different parts of Dhading in the past few weeks. 

Monsoon-triggered flood has damaged seven mini hydro projects on Manpangkhola because of which around 1,000 households have been compelled to live in the dark. 

Chairman Shambhu Thapa of Mini Hydro Electricity Union Dhading said electricity production was halted after the flood destroyed the canal, embankment, pipes, and hydro electricity houses. He informed that seven hydro projects used to generate 70 kilowatt power. 

Floods has damaged Kalsyang hydro project, Andherikhloa mini hydro project in Budhathum, and Kintangphedi mini hydro project at Marpak in the district.

Likewise, landslide has partially damaged Kichetkhola mini hydro project and swept away the pipeline of Lapa mini hydro project in Ri VDC. Thapa said that Rs 2.3 million is required immediately to repair the damaged projects and bring them back into operation. 

Altogether, 27 mini hydro projects are in operation across the district. After the hydro projects were damaged by the monsoon flood and mudslide, village folks have been using oil-fed lamps. 

Of the 84,500 households in Dhading, 57,000 are yet to be electrified. District Energy and Environment Office energy development officer Suresh Shrestha said that only 43 per cent households have electricity. 

Of the electrified 36,120 households in the district, 1,717 families receive 160 kilowatt power produced from District Energy and Environment Office. Around 55.25 kilowatt generated with support from Energy Area Cooperation Programme is meeting the power needs of 3,938 households. As many as 5,464 households are using electricity from solar power, while 25,000 households use power from NEA Central Transmission Line.

Source: THT