KATHMANDU: The Upper Marsyangdi ‘A’ Hydropower Project, which is capable of generating 50 MW of electricity, has been inoperative for the past two and a half months, following the damage to the infrastructure caused by floods and landslides in the region. The flood in the Marsyangdi River of June 15 seriously damaged the project’s infrastructure which is yet to be repaired, forcing the project to halt electricity production.

According to Public Relations Officer of the project, Karna Adhikari, both turbines of the infrastructure are damaged and need to be replaced by new ones. Preparations are currently being made to procure the replacement turbines from abroad. However, it will take another three months for the project to produce electricity, Adhikari said.

The flood in the river has also damaged the power house and the 11 KV of the national transmission line located in the dam site of the project. As many as 10 electric poles of 11 KV were swept away by the river while 30 others were damaged as well. The reconstruction of the damaged structures and electric poles are being repaired at the moment, he added.

According to Adhikari, the project has to bear a loss of Rs 10 million daily due to its inability to generate electricity. The project has lost over Rs 750 million so far.

The project has estimated a total loss of around Rs 1 billion if it remains unoperational for another three months.

The project is trying to procure equipment from China to replace the damaged ones. Likewise, other damaged structures are being repaired at the moment. The Upper Marsyangdi ‘A’ is the second hydropower project in Lamjung district.