The under construction hydropower project over Rudi Khola located at the border of Kaski and Lamjung districts has completed over 95 per cent of construction works, according to the project.

All the construction works will be completed within June 6, informed the project administration.

After the completion of infrastructure construction, the project will start testing the electricity production and will start commercial production within mid July, said Engineer Saroj Bhattrai, Deputy Project Manager.

According to civil engineer Bipin Pandey, all the activities under head-works have been completed and construction of gate will be complete in one week from its start. Meanwhile, descender works is on its final phase and can be finished within 20 days from its start.

Engineer Pandey further said that both mechanical and civil works would be completed in one month. Penstock pipe has already been placed while only 40 metres of road crossing pipe remains to be placed. The re-installation of penstock pipes that were damaged during landslide has reached in its final phase.

All works would be complete in one month’s time, engineer Pandey said while adding that switch aid and control panel under electro-mechanical system have been completed. The installation of turbine and generator will also be completed in a month.

According to mechanical sub-engineer Krishna Prasad Pandit, bringing extra water from Cheduwa Khola is ongoing and will be done in one and half months.

The hydropower project, which is promoted by Bindhabasini Hydropower Development Pvt Ltd, has 70 per cent investment of various banks in the leadership of Sanima Bank, whereas, 30 per cent of the investment has been raised by the promoter company.

The dam of the hydel project has been built at Singdi in Kawoholasonthar Rural Municipality-5 of Lamjung and at Singibeshi in Madi Rural Municipality-8 of Kaski district. The water collected in the dam will flow through the six-kilometre penstock pipes to the powerhouse located in Baluwabesi of Madi Rural Municipality to generate electricity.

The civil construction of the project has been undertaken by High Himalayan Hydro Construction Pvt Ltd while hydro mechanical is being constructed by North Hydro and Engineering. Likewise, electro-mechanical construction is being done by Toshiba Plant System and Service Corporation.

The Power Purchase Agreement of the Rudi ‘A’ project was held in February 10, 2013, in which it was agreed that the electricity generated in winter would be bought at Rs 8.4 per unit while Rs 4.80 in summer by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

The hydropower project is being constructed at a cost of Rs 1.36 billion. It was scheduled to be completed within mid july of 2017, however, it was delayed after the project was damaged in the flood and landslide of 2016.

The project built all the NEA sub-stations located between Baluwabesi to Mungribesi as well as the 3.8 kilometres long 33 KV double circuit transmission line, according to deputy project manager Bhattarai.

[May 4, 2018 / thehimalayantimes.com]