Hydropower projects are causing a serious crisis in the Modi River of Parbat district because they are not releasing water in accordance with legal standards. In the Parbat section alone, four projects operate on the Modi River: the 14.8 MW Modi Khola Hydropower Plant under the Nepal Electricity Authority, 15.8 MW Madhya Modi Hydropower Limited, 20 MW Lower Modi Khola Hydropower Project, and 10 MW Lower Modi ‘A’ Project.
Among these, three projects are located in Modi Rural Municipality and one in Kushma Municipality. According to Nepal’s Hydropower and Water Resources Policy, projects are legally required to continuously release at least 25 percent of the river’s natural flow. However, the ineffective implementation of this provision has caused the Modi River to dry up.
As river flows decrease, aquatic life is also facing crisis. Locals report that the existence of the river’s famous “Asala” fish is now at risk. The Modi Khola Hydropower Plant, which began operations for the first time in 2000 BS (1943–44 AD), has its dam at Beteni and its powerhouse at Patichaur. The Madhya Modi Hydro dam is at birethanti and its powerhouse at Beteni.
Similarly, the Lower Modi Khola Hydropower Project’s dam is in Patichaur and its powerhouse in Paradi, Kushma, while the Lower Modi ‘A’ Project’s dam is in Paradi and its powerhouse in Chuware’s Suitebour. Since all four hydropower plants are run-of-river projects, water released from one project flows directly into the next dam without reaching the river, further reducing the river’s natural flow.
According to local resident Devi Lamichhane, in the roughly 12-kilometer stretch from the new bridge on the Kaski–Parbat border to Chuware in Kushma Municipality–8, there is no water visible at all. As the river dries up, the daily life of residents along the riverbanks has also been affected.
The Modi Rural Municipality has repeatedly requested the concerned hydropower companies to release water according to the standards, but this has not been implemented. According to the municipality’s vice-chairman, Bimal Lamichhane, failure to release legally required water increases the risk to riverside communities.
The municipality has been receiving about NPR 15 million in annual royalties from electricity generated by the Modi River. However, local residents are demanding a halt to activities that have long-term environmental impacts under the guise of electricity production. “Ants have started walking in the river that should be flowing,” they said, warning companies not to play with nature for their own interests.
Jalasarokar
