Myagdi: Construction Begins on 180 MW Kaligandaki Gorge Hydropower Project Construction has officially begun on the 180 MW Kaligandaki Gorge Hydropower Project, the largest hydropower project ever undertaken in Myagdi District. Promoted by Kaligandaki Gorge Hydropower Pvt. Ltd., the project started tunnel excavation work on Monday in Bhalebas, Ward No. 4 of Annapurna Rural Municipality, using controlled blasting techniques.
According to Project Director Raman Singh, the project is targeted for completion within four years. A 5.6-kilometer-long tunnel will be constructed, with excavation works being carried out simultaneously from four locations, including the dam site, Gadpar, and the proposed powerhouse area at Gharap.
Singh said preparations are underway to construct the dam at Pahiro Thapla in Ghasa, Ward No. 4 of Thasang Rural Municipality in Mustang, while the powerhouse will be built at Gharap in Annapurna Rural Municipality–4, Myagdi. Civil contractor South Asian Infrastructure has already been mobilized at both the dam and powerhouse sites.
The run-of-river project will feature a one-kilometer penstock pipeline, with a gross elevation difference of 480 meters between the powerhouse and the outlet. Construction of offices, staff accommodations, and explosive storage facilities for the developer, contractors, and the Nepal Army is in its final phase.
To improve access to the project area, an eight-kilometer road has already been completed. Preparations are also underway to install a Bailey bridge in the Gadpar area. To evacuate the generated electricity into the national grid, approximately one kilometer of a 220 kV transmission line will be constructed from Gharap to Dana.
Senior Manager Krishna Das Shrestha said the project is estimated to cost around NPR 40 billion. Financing will be led by Global IME Bank, with participation from Laxmi Sunrise Bank, Himalayan Bank, and Prabhu Bank. Local residents of the affected areas will also be offered a 10 percent equity stake in the project.
A religious ceremony was conducted to mark the commencement of construction in the presence of local representatives, community leaders, project promoters, contractors, and security officials, according to traditional rituals.
Ward Chairperson Lok Bahadur Phagami stated that the Kaligandaki Gorge project is the largest hydropower development ever initiated in Myagdi District. He noted that five hydropower projects with a combined installed capacity of 162 MW are already in operation in the rivers of the Narchyang area.
These include the 5 MW Ghalemdikhola, 42 MW Mristikhola, 38 MW Nilgiri-1, 71 MW Nilgiri-2, and 6 MW Relekhola hydropower projects. In addition, the 66.3 MW Middle Kaligandaki Hydropower Project is currently under construction on the Kaligandaki River in the Narchyang area, while the 9.14 MW Super Ghalemdi Hydropower Project is in the preparation stage.
Jalasarokar