The Nepal Electricity Authority has started the renovation and modernisation of the 24-megawatt Trishuli Hydropower Project located at Bidur Municipality-9, Trishuli Bazaar in Nuwakot.

The renovation and modernisation of the project has been started after the equipment of the power plant, which has been in operation since 2023 B.S., has become old and dilapidated and the reservoir has been filled with soil and sand.

The estimated cost for renovation and modernisation of the project is Rs. 750 million. The electromechanical equipment in the control room of the power plant will be modernised and automated, said the NEA.

The work to remove the soil and sand accumulated in the reservoir spread over about 400 ropanies of land has started.

In addition, a new bypass canal with a length of 1,200 metres and capacity of 50 cumec water flow has been constructed from the right side of the reservoir.

Now electricity is being generated through this bypass canal. Since the canal is in operation, the work of removing the soil and sand from the reservoir is continuing without stopping the power generation.

The restoration of the reservoir, which started last May, is being worked on with the goal of completing it by mid-March this year. The work of making the power house automatic will be completed within one year. For this, a contract has been signed and some equipment is under production, while power transformers and other equipment have been supplied to the centre.

A high-level team, including managing director of NEA Kul Man Ghising, visited the renovation work and instructed concerned bodies to complete the entire work within the specified time.

After the restoration of the reservoir, the power house can be operated at its full capacity for four hours daily during the time when the demand for electricity is high. In winter, electricity can be generated by using the water stored in the reservoir and from the bypass canal for peaking.

Chief of the hydropower power centre Babu Raja Maharjan said that the reservoir will not be used during the rainy season, and as the structure has been built to stop the flood from the shallow rivers, it will not be filled with sand and soil like in the past.

Bidur Municipality has prepared a master plan to develop around the reservoir as a tourist area.

The municipality has plans to run a boat on the reservoir, build a footpath and garden on vacant land.

The Trishuli Hydropower Project was built with Indian grants.

It has been designed to generate 163 million units of electricity annually from the semi-reservoir Trishuli Hydropower Project.

Around 137.1 million units of electricity were gen erated from the power project in the last fiscal year 2021/22.

Till last fiscal year, ab out 5.69 billion units of electricity used to be produced from the centre.

The initial capacity of the project was 21 MW, which was built with the help of IRs 140 million.

Later, through its restoration, the capacity was expanded to 24 MW.

About 15 MW Devighat Hydropower Station is also running as a cascade of Trishuli Hydropower Project.