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A devastating flash flood in Rasuwa district on Wednesday has caused significant damage to hydropower projects, transmission lines and other electricity infrastructure, affecting operational and under-construction projects in Rasuwa and neighbouring Nuwakot.

According to preliminary report released by the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, the natural disaster has caused major damage to dozens of hydropower projects operating and under construction in the Trishuli and Bhotekoshi river basins.

The dams, headworks, power houses, access roads, transmission structures, construction materials and other physical structures of the projects, especially those located on the river banks and in flood-affected areas, have been severely damaged.

In Rasuwa, five operational hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 236 MW and three under-construction projects with a total capacity of 342.42 MW have been affected.

The impacted projects include the 216 MW Upper Trishuli-1, 111 MW Rasuwagadhi, 120 MW Rasuwa Bhotekoshi, 78 MW Sanjen Khola, 6.42 MW Upper Mailung A, 5 MW Mailung Khola, 20 MW Langtang Khola and 22 MW Chilime hydropower projects.

Similarly, in Nuwakot, four operational projects with a combined capacity of 123 MW and two under-construction projects totalling 52.6 MW have been affected.

The projects include the 24 MW Trishuli Hydropower Project, 14.1 MW Devighat Hydropower Project, 60 MW Upper Trishuli-3A, 37 MW Upper Trishuli 3B, 15.6 MW Middle Trishuli Ganga and the 25 MW Sotar Hydropower Project.

The ministry said the exact extent of the damage to individual projects has yet to be determined.

Concerned agencies and project developers have begun collecting detailed information and carrying out technical assessments.

Minister Shrestha directs swift rescue and rehabilitation

Meanwhile, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has directed concerned authorities to immediately collect details of the damage caused by the flash flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa and surrounding areas and expedite rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Soon after receiving information about the flood on Wednesday morning, Minister Shrestha convened a meeting of the Senior Management Team at the ministry to take stock of the preliminary situation.

During the meeting, he directed officials to give top priority to the rescue and rehabilitation of affected employees, workers and local residents, coordinate with the Ministry of Home Affairs and other concerned agencies, and immediately mobilise necessary mechanisms in the affected areas.

According to the ministry, coordination is underway with the Ministry of Home Affairs to identify the status of employees, workers and local residents who have gone out of contact due to the flood and to carry out rescue operations.

To provide early warning to residents in downstream areas about potential flood risks, the Hydrology and Meteorological Research Centre has sent more than 200,000 SMS alerts.

NEA prepares alternatives as flood damages key power infrastructure

He instructed them to prepare necessary alternative and contingency measures to ensure that electricity supply remains regular, safe and sustainable across the country, including in the Kathmandu Valley.

A flash flood has also damaged the transmission lines and the Trishuli 3B Hub Substation in Rasuwa district.

As projects that supply electricity to the Kathmandu Valley from nearby areas play a major role in meeting its demand have been affected, the risk of power supply disruption in the Valley has increased.

Due to the damage caused to the Trishuli-3 ‘B’ Hub Substation in particular, some projects that did not directly suffer major damage to their physical structures have been disconnected from the national transmission system.

The Nepal Electricity Authority has intensified its work to restore and repair the power infrastructure damaged by the flood in the Bhotekoshi River and restore power supply to the affected areas.

The Authority has mobilised the necessary technical manpower and resources to regulate power service in the affected areas after the flood caused extensive damage to the power infrastructure.

Likewise, the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has launched a mechanism to provide immediate power service to the affected areas through solar energy technology.

Meanwhile, the ministry has also held discussions with the Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN) to obtain information on damage to hydropower projects, the rescue of affected personnel and the rehabilitation of projects. The discussion also focused on promptly collecting details of losses suffered by private-sector projects and moving ahead with the necessary coordination for their restoration.

Once accurate details of the losses are obtained, the ministry will make public a necessary action plan for rehabilitation and move forward accordingly. The ministry has also formed a committee under the coordination of a joint secretary from the Planning Division to collect and assess the overall details of the damage.

Issuing a press statement, IPPAN urged the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, the Nepal Electricity Authority, the Department of Electricity Development and other related agencies to accord national priority to the immediate assessment of damage, reconstruction and restoration of flood-damaged power projects and transmission infrastructure.

By Laxman Kafle