Kathmandu: The 9.9 MW Iwa Khola Hydropower Project in Panchthar has remained shut down for more than three weeks after sustaining damage from floods and landslides. The project’s initial efforts to restore operations have also been unsuccessful, according to the developer.
According to the project’s promoter, Ridi Power, continuous rainfall triggered floods and landslides that caused riverbank erosion in the headrace pipeline area, damaging the pipeline’s support structures as well as other civil infrastructure.
The company said persistent rainfall caused erosion beneath the pipeline, resulting in pipeline ruptures and cracks at multiple locations. Although the necessary repairs were carried out and efforts were made to resume operations, further damage to the pipeline was discovered at several locations during testing.
Following a detailed technical assessment, the company concluded that the project cannot be safely brought back into operation through routine repairs or welding alone.
Power generation from the project has remained suspended since july 10. The company said detailed technical studies and repair works for a permanent solution are currently underway.
Nepalpurbadhar