Midim Khola Micro Hydropower Project based in Karaputar, Lamjung, has remained idle even two years after its construction completed.

Initially, the power generation was halted for a year due to the absence of Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). But immediately after the signing of the PPA, the 100KW project’s canal was swept away by landslide in July 2015.

The project was developed by Ishaneshwor-based Deurali Multipurpose Cooperative.

“Repair and maintenance works are under way,” said chairman of cooperative, who is also coordinator of Midim Khola Micro Hydropower Project, Irrigation and Electrification Sub-Committee.

“We had planned to start generation from August 5, 2015, but the landslide on

July 18 swept away the canal,” he said.

According to Ghimire, works on grid connection was about to finish. “It will be connected with the distribution system handled by Western Lamjung Electricity Consumer Committee,” he said.

The cost of reconstructing the damaged canal has been estimated at Rs40 million. The government has however allocated just Rs500,000 this fiscal year for the works.

A team is working to solve the technical problems. Arjun Devkota, a technician at Motherland Energy Group Private Limited, said the space for water flow has narrowed down due to technical problem in the power house. When test-production was done one and half years ago, the project had produced just 69.2KW electricity.