KATHMANDU: Around 430 MW of electricity has been knocked out of the national grid after floods in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa damaged several hydropower projects. The government has moved forward with alternative arrangements to manage the impact on electricity supply.
The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation said transmission lines supplying electricity to Balaju and Chapali areas of Kathmandu from the Trishuli Corridor were disrupted by the floods, putting additional pressure on the transmission system in those areas.
According to ministry spokesperson Mohan Kumar Shakya, preparations are underway to develop an alternative power supply system. He said the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has formed a task force to work on the issue.
As electricity demand is expected to increase during the winter, the ministry has held discussions with the Department of Roads and Kathmandu Metropolitan City on constructing additional underground grids and managing alternative power supply.
During the discussions, the Department of Roads expressed its willingness to provide necessary support for underground grid construction. Kathmandu Metropolitan City also pledged to cooperate in managing underground cables beneath footpaths.
Durgananda Badiyat, chief of the NEA’s Project Directorate, said the authority would further streamline the ongoing underground cable management in the Kathmandu Valley and coordinate efforts to manage increased winter electricity demand.
Munindra Thakur, chief of the Bagmati Distribution and Customer Directorate, made a presentation on load management in Kathmandu and said the NEA was working through the task force to manage winter electricity demand.
NEA board member Anshukiran Shahi said high-level coordination among all concerned agencies would be necessary to manage pressure on the electricity system during winter.
Nepalpurbadhar