Complete repair works in 15 days‚ says OPMCM

KATHMANDU:

The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) today instructed the management of Mid-Marshyangdi Hydroelectric Project to complete repair and maintenance works at the project site within the next 15 days so that it could continue evacuating power to the national grid.

The instruction was issued by OPMCM Secretary Shanta Raj Subedi during his visit to the project site on Saturday.

The Lamjung-based 70-megawatt hydroelectric project, which commenced operation six years ago, temporarily suspended power generation last month after excessive amount of sand in the dam area started affecting electricity production. Also, problems were detected at the dam site, which called for immediate repair and maintenance works.

Since the project suspended power generation, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has increased loadshedding by an hour to

11 hours per day in the Kathmandu Valley.

During his visit, Subedi found that the project had not flushed the sediments deposited at the dam site for a long time. As a result, sediments like sand had reached the level where the intake was located. Because of this, chances of sand reaching the power turbines were high.

Sand generally wears down power turbines, which are crucial for power generation.

Subedi instructed that the project flush sediments deposited at the dam site during the monsoon, when rivers get excessive amount of water, and conduct other maintenance works periodically so that power generation need not be suspended.

He also directed the local administrative body and police to take immediate action if anyone tries to stall ongoing repair and maintenance works.

Source: THT