Dolakha — The Singti–Bahrabise transmission line, which was damaged by lightning, has resumed operation after repairs. With the transmission line back in operation, 89 megawatts of electricity generated from hydropower projects in Dolakha has once again been fed into the national transmission line.
On Wednesday afternoon, lightning accompanied by a storm damaged Tower No. 32 of the 132 kV Singti–Bahrabise transmission line, disrupting 89 megawatts of electricity from five hydropower projects. To meet the electricity demand during the festival period, the transmission line was temporarily repaired and brought back into operation as an alternative measure, said Manoj Sah, Chief of the Khimti Grade Branch.
The branch has been overseeing six substations in Ramechhap, Dolakha, and Sindhupalchok. According to him, the lightning-damaged conductor at Tower No. 32, located in Kalinchok Rural Municipality–7 of Dolakha, along the 132 kV Singti–Bahrabise transmission line, has been temporarily restored by connecting it as a single circuit and is now in operation for the time being.
Since electricity demand is high during the festival period, we have repaired the transmission line as a temporary solution,’ he said. ‘Work on the double-circuit line is ongoing, and a permanent solution will be implemented at that time.’ He added that with the transmission line back in operation, 89 megawatts of electricity from five privately-owned hydropower plants have been fed into the national transmission line.
Electricity generated from privately-owned hydropower plants in the northern region of Dolakha is transmitted from the Singti substation to the Bahrabise substation via the 132 kV transmission line and fed into the national grid. Sah stated that preparations have begun to operate this transmission line as a double circuit after the Dashain festival, as it is currently running on a single circuit.