Kathmandu, July 15
The government has backtracked on its decision to open the sluice gates of the Kulekhani Hydropower dam which is nearing its capacity to hold water following monsoon rains in the last few weeks.
The District Security Committee of Makwanpur had decided to open the gates of the dam on Monday morning and issued warnings to locals to remain vigilant. However, following a decline in the rainfall in the last few days, the water level in the dam has decreased.
The government has decided to release the water through the turbines, informed Home Ministry’s Disaster Management Centre.
Inhabitants of the surrounding area were asked to be vigilant as opening the dam would lead to a significant rise in water levels in rivers near Bhimphedi, Bagmati, Rautahat and Sarlahi area. The total capacity of Kulekhani is 1,530 cubic metres. Around 1,526 cubic metre of the dam is now filled with water.
