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Hydropower projects in Myagdi have been affected by floods and landslides triggered by continuous rainfall, disrupting both construction activities and electricity generation. Five hydropower projects under construction in Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality have been affected after roads were blocked, preventing the transportation of construction materials, equipment, and fuel. Floods and landslides have also halted electricity generation at two hydropower projects in the district.

The construction of the 53.5 MW Upper Myagdi-1, 37 MW Upper Myagdi, 65 MW Myagdikhola, 14 MW Mudikhola, and 6.5 MW Darkhola hydropower projects, all under construction in Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality, has been affected by the floods and landslides.

Similarly, road connectivity to the construction site of the 9.14 MW Super Ghalemdi Hydropower Project, under construction in Narchyang of Annapurna Rural Municipality-4, has been disrupted. The 6 MW Relekhola Hydropower Project has remained shut since the final week of Ashadh after a flood from the Relekharka area of Narchyang deposited debris at the project’s dam.

Electricity generation at the 14 MW Gharkhola Hydropower Project in Annapurna Rural Municipality-6 has also been halted after a dry landslide buried the powerhouse on August 10. One person died and another was injured after being buried in the landslide.

According to Jyoti Kumar KC, project chief of Upper Myagdi-1, vehicles carrying construction materials such as cement and steel rods, as well as equipment, have been unable to reach the project site since Ashadh after landslides occurred at Ghumaune (Phaparkhet), Bangephir and Ilpu, while the Shivaratri stream was also flooded.

“We have continued the work by mobilizing the equipment and construction materials already available,” he said. “However, the pace of construction has not been as expected because the transportation of construction materials has been affected by the floods and landslides.”

Delays in the construction of a motorable bridge over the Shivaratri stream through the Infrastructure Development Office have further complicated vehicle movement during the monsoon. Buddhi Raj Adhikari, public relations officer of the Myagdikhola Hydropower Project, said construction work has been affected by rising water levels in the stream and landslides along the access road.

“We have had to rely on alternative measures and available materials, which has affected the pace of construction,” he said. “We have been forced to use excavators to pull vehicles carrying supplies across the stream and clear landslides to allow vehicles to pass.”

Meanwhile, the 37 MW Upper Myagdi Hydropower Project is in the process of increasing its capacity to 46.25 MW. Although the project has achieved around 60 percent physical progress, its construction work has been affected by floods and landslides, according to the project.

According to Resham Bhandari, chairman of Darkhola Hydropower, transporting construction materials required for the project has become difficult due to landslides at Thapachaur, Gauthali and Dachaur cliffs along the Beni–Darbang and Darbang–Dharapani–Takum–Muna road sections.

With roads and access routes blocked by floods and landslides, the projects have been continuing construction by using available materials and adopting alternative measures. However, the pace of construction is expected to remain affected until road connectivity is restored.

Jalasarokar