Kathmandu, October 2
Repairs to the transmission line have begun to restore electricity supply in Annapurna Rural Municipality in flood-and-landslide-affected Myagdi, and in Mustang.
Rain that fell continuously from September 24 to 27 caused flooding in the Kaligandaki River, which brought down four towers of the 220kV Dana-Khurkot transmission line at Pokharebagar and Dhirchyang in Annapurna Rural Municipality, and at Bhirkate in Dovan, Myagdi. The fallen towers severed the line, cutting off power supply to Mustang district and Annapurna Rural Municipality.
Likewise, six hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 176 megawatts in Myagdi and Mustang have been unable to connect to the central power system, resulting in losses worth tens of millions of rupees. Power shortages have also disrupted communication services and affected residents’ daily lives.
Hemraj Chapagain, chief of the Nepal Electricity Authority’s Tatopani Distribution Centre, which covers wards 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Annapurna Rural Municipality and all of Mustang district, said that since the transmission line problem makes it impossible to restore power supply immediately from the Dana substation, preparations are underway to operate an alternative line.
“Since supply from the Dana substation isn’t immediately possible, we’ve started repairing the 33kV transmission line from Milanchowk through Dana to Kowang in Mustang,” he said. “Since that transmission line has also sustained extensive damage in its Myagdi section, we’ve mobilised authority staff as well as labourers through contractors for the repair work.”
Chapagain said he had returned from a site inspection confirming there was no problem with Mustang’s transmission and distribution lines.
Work to plant fallen poles and replace severed and sagging wires with new ones has been completed from Tatopani to Pokharebagar, the centre of Annapurna Rural Municipality. One pole has fallen at Gharma, and four poles on the transmission line connecting Rakhu to Begkhola have also fallen.
Between Begkhola and Tiplyang, poles and wires have been completely swept away by the Kaligandaki flood over a 1.5-kilometre stretch. With road transport not operating, there have been difficulties transporting materials for the power line repairs.
Materials are being brought from the authority’s provincial office, transported by vehicle via Beni to Rakhu, and from there carried by porters to the Begkhola area.
Distribution centre chief Chapagain said the transmission line repair work is being carried forward at a rapid pace.
