Concrete bridge over the Deumai River in Gajurmukhidham, Ilam district, severely damaged by a flash flood on October 4. File Photo: RSS

The government has estimated that around Rs. 12.38 billion will be required to rebuild road structures damaged by the recent floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains on October 4, 5, and 6 across the country.

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has estimated that it will cost Rs. 10.68 billion to reconstruct the main highways, alternative roads, Bailey bridges and concrete bridges destroyed during this year's monsoon disaster.

An additional Rs. 1.7 billion is needed to rebuild structures damaged by last year’s monsoon.

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure and Transport and Urban Development Kul Man Ghising said that all concerned bodies under his ministries have given high priority to the operation of roads damaged and blocked by the floods and landslides in various places.

“Manpower has been mobilised, and necessary materials are being supplied to open obstructed roads as soon as possible,” Minister Ghising said, adding that regular monitoring of the works is being carried out by him and the ministry.

Floods and landslides damaged roads and bridges at over 263 locations across the country.

According to the ministry, the Mechi Highway has been the most affected by this year's monsoon disaster.

It is estimated that the reconstruction of the Mechi Highway will cost Rs. 1.5 billion.

Some of the largest damages have occurred along the Kaligandaki Corridor, the Kanti Highway and the Mechi Highway.

The Mechi Highway is damaged at nine locations and Koshi Highway at seven locations. Largest damages have occurred at Dhobidhara-Nepaltar section and Mai Khola – Rajduwali section along the Mechi Highway.

The ministry said that the reconstruction of the damaged highways, including Koshi, Mid-Hill, Postal, Araniko, Kanti, Narayanghat-Mungling will cost approximately Rs. 3.77 billion.

The Mid-Hill Highway and Khandbari-Kimanthanka section of Koshi Highway have also witnessed multiple damages.

Likewise, the Kanti Highway is washed away at three locations and structural damages have happened at four places.

Similarly, the reconstruction of 17 damaged permanent bridges is estimated to cost Rs. 4.52 billion.

The new Bailey bridges that are damaged and need to be maintained for road operation are estimated to cost around Rs. 800 million.

The reconstruction of alternative roads is estimated to cost around Rs. 1.59 billion.

In addition to road infrastructure, the recent floods have also caused severe damage to the energy sector.

32 hydropower projects affected

According to preliminary data from the Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN), about 32 hydropower projects in 10 districts across three provinces have been affected.

Of these, 17 projects in operation with a capacity of 180 MW and 15 hydropower projects with a capacity of 338 MW under construction have been affected by the floods.

The hydropower projects in Ilam district of Koshi Province, which was the most affected by the floods and landslides, have also been the most affected.

1,500 metres of embankments broken

Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation reported that about 1,500 metres of embankments have been eroded due to river flooding and landslides, causing an estimated loss of Rs. 100 million.

Kankai River alone eroded about 200 metres of embankment on the lower right bank of the Postal Highway in Gauriganj Rural Municipality-2, Jhapa.

In addition, an estimated 200 metres of embankment has been eroded in Kuwadi of Jhapa Rural Municipality-2, damaging about 25 hectares of land. It is estimated that the damage is Rs. 7.5 million.

Similarly, the Mechi River has caused damage worth about Rs. 5 million by breaking the embankments in various places.

It is reported that the Ratu River in Mahottari has eroded about 890 metres of embankments in various places.

The ministry has said that the damage in Mahottari is estimated to be worth Rs. 80 million.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has begun collecting details of loss and damage in the agriculture and livestock sector across the country due to the recent heavy rainfall.

The ministry has instructed its subordinate offices to collect preliminary details of loss from all seven provinces and submit them to the ministry.

By Laxman Kafle