Myagdi: The construction of the Darbang-Myagdikhola Hydropower Project has started in Malika Rural Municipality. The Dhaulagiri Kalika Hydro Limited has started the construction of the 25MW project with investment from non-resident Nepalis.

Binod Kunwar, Chairman of the Dhaulagiri Kalika Hydro Limited, who is also a former president of the NRN Association in South Korea, said that the project was constructed with the investment of NRNs in Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, the UK, the USA, and other countries, and the industrialists and local people.

The foundation stone of the project was laid two years ago, but the floods of 2020 and the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic also affected the construction of the project. Project Engineer Prakash Shahi shared that the access road has been constructed, land, office and camp management have been completed and construction of the tunnel has already started. Electricity will be generated by pouring water in the powerhouse to be constructed in Balute.

Under the leadership of Sanima Bank, Prabhu, Kumari, Century, Muktinath, Obha Development and Mahalakshmi Development Bank have also agreed to invest Rs 3.5 billion in the project. The project is estimated to cost a total of Rs 5.15 billion. The target is to start power generation within the next three years.