By Our Reporter

The agriculture and energy sectors suffered the most in the floods and landslides of September 27 and 28. While the agriculture sector suffered a loss of Rs. 6 billion the energy sector lost Rs. 4.3 billion in the disaster.

According to the preliminary report of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, there was a total estimate of damages of Rs. 4.35 billion, including Rs. 1.35 billion in river control and irrigation and Rs. 3 billion in the energy sector.

Due to floods and landslides caused by incessant rains, more than two dozen hydropower projects have been affected.

Around Rs. 2.45 billion has been lost due to floods and landslides in the hydropower sector.

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Deepak Khadka said that about 1,100 megawatts of electricity production has been stopped after the floods damaged the hydropower projects across the country.

Similarly, in the sector of irrigation infrastructure, the damage has been estimated at Rs 1.35 billion.

Khadka said that about 11 hydropower projects with an installed capacity of 625.96 MW, including 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project, have been damaged.

Similarly, 15 under-construction hydropower projects with a total installed capacity of 1,010.29 megawatts were damaged.

Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Kul Man Ghising said that the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project has been closed since Friday evening.

He said that if 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi, which has been closed for the last three days, is closed for a long time, there will be problems in load management.

Power generation of hydropower projects, including 22 MW Bagmati Small Hydropower Project, 22.1 MW Lower Hewa Khola, 14.9 MW Hewa Khola ‘A’, 86 MW Solu Dudhkoshi, 3 MW Mai Khola Cascade Hydropower, 9.6 MW Mai Khola, 1 MW Pheme Khola, 5 MW Siuri Khola, 40 MW 2 MW Khani Khola, 4.36 MW Tunguna Thosne were affected by the floods.

Similarly, under-construction hydropower projects, including 216 MW Upper Trishuli-1, 40 MW Super Nyagdi, 25 MW Ilep Khola Hydropower Project, 5 MW Hewa Khola, 15.1 MW Sabha Khola ‘B’, 6.3 MW Sabha Khola ‘C’, 86.59 MW Landruk Modi, 100 MW Super Trishuli, 20 MW Langtang Khola, 14.9 MW Maya Khola, 99.4 MW Lapche Khola, 40 MW Bhotekoshi-1, 82 MW Lower Solu, 140 MW Tanahun Hydropower, and 120 MW Rasuwa Bhotekoshi Hydropower were damaged.

Irrigation canals damaged:

According to the Ministry, the tailscape of 10 branch canals under the Sunsari Morang irrigation project has been damaged.

Similarly, the flood has caused damage to the East Main Canal and West Main Canal and branch canals in the Bagmati Irrigation Project, with an estimated damage of Rs. 30 million.

The Ministry said that the Mahuli River has damaged the Koshi Pump Chandra Canal Project.

Source : https://www.peoplesreview.com.np/2024/10/02/energy-irrigation-sectors-face-loss-of-rs-4-3-billion/