October 5, Kathmandu – Continuous heavy rainfall over the past three days has caused floods and landslides that forced 13 hydropower projects in Ilam district, with a total capacity of 105 megawatts, to stop production.
According to the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN), Ilam district has suffered the most damage from the recent disaster. So far, 37 people have lost their lives in landslides across Ilam.
IPPAN reported that floods and landslides have severely damaged most of the hydropower plants in the district. Their initial report shows that 13 operating projects generating 105.4 MW are now completely shut down.
In addition, five under-construction projects with a combined capacity of 93 MW have also been damaged.
The projects that have stopped production include Maikhola, Maikhola Cascade, Super Mai, Super Mai A and its Cascade, Jogmaikhola and its Cascade, Lower Jogmai, Maibeni, Upper Maikhola, and Mai C Cascade. These projects have reported serious damage to intake systems, powerhouses, substations, headworks, and transmission lines.
Similarly, construction works at Phidim’s Sabha Khola B and Hewakhola projects in Panchthar have also been affected. IPPAN said that Siddhi Khola in Ilam and Brahmayani and Upper Brahmayani projects in Sindhupalchok have suffered similar damage.
Floods have washed away construction materials and destroyed access roads, headworks, and powerhouses in several of these sites.
