Lamjung, February 23
Construction of the Midim Khola (Karapu) Hydropower project has reached its final leg now. The 3MW power project is being developed on the border of Nalma and Karapu villages in the west of Lamjung.
According to project chief residential engineer Dip Bahadur Singh, 90 per cent of the construction is over. According to sources, while 90 per cent of civil engineering of underground tunnel, power house and dam site has been completed, sixty to seventy per cent of hydro and electro-mechanical work has finished.
The project, being developed by Union Hydropower, was originally estimated to come into operation earliest from mid-April last year itself. The project was delayed due to the earthquake, border blockade and the resultant fuel crisis.
According to the project public contact officer Rajendra Adhikari, the project cost is expected to exceed the initial estimation of 540 million rupees. “As there was fuel crisis and shortage of workers, the cost of the project went up,” Adhikari said, adding that the company will start generating power from mid-May.
There had been a Power Purchase Agreement between the company and Nepal Electricity Authority about six years ago. As per the agreement, NEA will purchase the power generated from the project at Rs 8.40 per unit in the dry season and at Rs 4.80 in the rainy season.
Source : The Himalayan Times.
