Bhotekoshi Flood: 430 MW Electricity Disrupted, Government Pursues Alternative Management

The devastating flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa has damaged various hydropower projects, causing 430 MW of electricity to be lost from the national transmission system. Following this, the government has engaged in alternative management. After the flood halted electricity supply via the Trishuli Corridor to Balaju and Chapali in Kathmandu, the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has initiated homework for alternative management.

With the Bhotekoshi flood disrupting electricity from the Trishuli Corridor, pressure has mounted on the Balaju and Chapali transmission lines. Ministry spokesperson Mohan Kumar Shakya said the ministry has started work on developing an alternative supply system. According to him, the Nepal Electricity Authority is working by forming a 'task force'.

On Tuesday, the ministry held discussions with the Department of Roads and Kathmandu Metropolitan City for the construction of additional underground grids. The Authority has advanced the construction of additional underground grids for winter alternative management.

Spokesperson Shakya said discussions were held with the Department of Roads and Kathmandu Metropolitan City for cooperation on winter electricity management with a definite timetable, for the reliability of underground alternative electricity grids in some places and for the construction of additional underground grids.

In the discussion, Subodh Devkota, head of the Kathmandu Division of the Department of Roads, expressed commitment to provide necessary support and cooperation on behalf of the department for underground grid construction.

Suresh Kumar Rai, head of the Public Construction Department of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, also said that necessary cooperation would be extended by managing underground wires inside the footpaths.

Durganand Badiyat, head of the Project Directorate of the Authority, said that by further organizing the underground wire management being carried out within the Kathmandu Valley, intensive cooperation would be made as per the need for winter demand management of the Distribution and Customer Service Directorate.

In the discussion, Munindra Thakur, head of the Bagmati Distribution and Customer Directorate, presented on load management and necessary tasks in Kathmandu, informing that the Nepal Electricity Authority has been advancing winter demand management work by forming a 'task force'.

In the discussion, Anshukiran Shahi, a member of the Board of Directors of the Authority, said that high cooperation and support from all bodies are necessary in managing Kathmandu's winter demand. He also mentioned that continuous coordination is being made with the ministry to address the pressure of electricity in winter through smooth management.