Floods and landslides damages 26 hydropower projects, multiple road sections

KATHMANDU: The floods and landslides triggered by incessant rainfall have caused physical damage of around Rs 3 billion. It is estimated that the under construction 44 MW Super Madi Hydropower Project in Madi of Kaski alone has caused a loss of over Rs 1 billion.  

According to the Independent Power Producers' Association (IPPAN), the floods have damaged 16 under construction projects and 10 projects generating electricity. Krishna Prasad Acharya, president of IPPAN, said that more than two dozen hydropower projects were affected till 8 PM on Wednesday.

"Most of the hydropower projects both under construction and completed in the Dordi Corridor, Marsyangdi Corridor and Madi Corridor have been affected by the floods and landslides," he said. “The details of the damage have not been received from all the places yet. There has been a lot of physical damage. There were no immediate reports of injuries or human casualties.” Construction materials, equipment, dams, tunnels and other structures of the hydropower projects under construction have been damaged due to the landslide. 

The floods and landslides have also damaged roads in various places. More than two dozen roads have been damaged and more than a dozen bridges have collapsed. This has caused disruption in the movement of people as well. 

Deputy Director General of the Department of Roads (DoR) Shiva Prasad Nepal said that most of the damage was on Karnali Highway and Siddhartha Highway. “The department was trying to clear blocked roads where possible. So far, we have not been able to collect exact data on which roads were damaged. However, it can be estimated that more billions have been lost.”

According to the Department of Roads, there is still obstruction in 8 road sections till 8 PM on Wednesday. The department has stated that one-way transportation services have come into operation in 11 places and two-way in three places of the blocked highway. 

According to the DoR, Sanphebgar-Martadi-Kolti road section, Dumre-Besisahar-Chame road section, Sanphebgar-Haddekhola-Rila road section, Belahiya-Bhairahawa-Butwal-Bartung section, Tansen-Ridi-Korla section, Panchkhal-Melamchi-Timbu road section, Pushpalal (Mid-Hills) Highway, Kathmandu-Dhulikhel-Dolalghat-Khadichaur section have been blocked.

Nepal, who is also the spokesperson of the DoR, said that the careless construction of branch roads connecting to the highways has also caused floods and landslides. "This situation has arisen when dozer drivers build a road without technical study just to connect and access the highway," he said. “Floods and landslides will continue to damage roads until this practice is stopped.”

Republica