Kathmandu. The construction of 9.14 MW Super Ghalemdi Hydropower Project based in Annapurna rural municipality-4 has started. The project is being promoted by Super Ghalemdi Hydropower Pvt Ltd and has started the construction of an access road linking the proposed dam site from the confluence of Ghalemdi and Relekhola of Narchyang to the base of Annapurna Himal.

Residential engineer at the project Prakash Bhattarai said that out of 5 kilometres (5 kilometres), access road has been constructed on two kilometres and the building for staff quarters has also been prepared.

“We have started cutting out hills to prepare the land by constructing road”, he said, adding, “We are preparing to forward the construction of dam, powerhouse, penstock pipeline and transmission line in parallel after digging the access road”. ”

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 1.80 billion and it is targeted to be completed within next two years. Residential engineer Bhattarai said that the water brought through the pipeline will be brought to the power house from a height of 420 meters away from the dam.

All the land used for the construction of the project is public. Out of 1,400 trees, orders have been received for cutting down 546 trees while the remaining are in the process.

Global IME Bank Limited and Machhapuchchhra Bank Limited have been proposed for financial resource management. Of the total cost, 70 percent will be bank and 30 percent will be self-capitalized. Locals of project-affected areas will be given 10 percent share investment.

Five hydropower projects with a capacity of 162 MW have been constructed in the rivers flowing through Narchyang. Another 63.3 MW project is under construction while two projects with a capacity of 173.14 MW are under construction.

According to ward chair Lok Bahadur Pun, 5 MW Ghalemdi Khola, 42 MW Mristi Khola, 38 MW Nilgiri-1, 71 MW Nilgiri-2 and 6 MW Relekhola have already come into operation.

The 66.3 MW Middle Kaligandaki Hydropower Project is under construction in Kaligandaki. Likewise, 184 MW Kaligandaki Gorge Hydropower Project under Kaligandaki Hydropower Limited is also being constructed.