Kathmandu, 30 September (H.S.): Nepal has begun preparations for alternative electricity supplies after devastating floods caused extensive damage to several hydropower projects, taking around 430 MW of generation capacity offline from the national grid.

The flood damage has disrupted power supplies reaching Kathmandu’s Balaju and Chapali areas through the Trishuli Corridor. As a result, alternative transmission lines supplying electricity to these areas have come under increased load pressure. In view of the situation, the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has begun work on the infrastructure required to establish alternative power supply arrangements.

According to ministry spokesperson Mohan Kumar Shakya, the Nepal Electricity Authority has formed a special task force to manage Kathmandu’s power supply system. He said preparations were under way to establish alternative supply arrangements to meet peak electricity demand expected during the upcoming winter.

As part of the preparations, the ministry held discussions on Tuesday with the Department of Roads and Kathmandu Metropolitan City regarding the construction of additional underground power grids and measures to strengthen the reliability of the existing underground distribution network.

Shakya said the meeting focused on improving grid reliability and developing an additional underground network through coordination with the Department of Roads and Kathmandu Metropolitan City within the stipulated timeframe.

He said preparations for alternative power supply arrangements were being accelerated in anticipation of higher electricity demand during the winter months.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar