Kathmandu. The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has made arrangements for alternative energy in the flood-affected areas of Rasuwa.

Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha mobilized the mechanism under the Ministry to manage alternative energy in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts after the floods damaged 12 hydropower projects and halted the production of 431.1 MW.

The Ministry of Energy is preparing to send five hundred solar power banks to the affected areas today in collaboration with the Alternative Energy Promotion Center. The Ministry of Energy is handing over five hundred solar power banks to the National Council of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management led by the Prime Minister to send them to the affected areas.

Sanjeev Maharjan, Chief Personal Secretary to the Energy Minister, said, “It is not possible to restore electricity immediately as our substation has blown up in Rasuwa. Therefore, we are sending the solar power bank to the National Council for Disaster Relief so that the lights can be lit and mobile can be charged as an alternative. We are preparing to send it to the affected areas through the council,” he said.

According to the ministry, the 220 KV substation in Trishuli has been completely damaged and 6 transmission lines have been blocked. The 3B Hub substation has been completely damaged and 6 transmission lines have been blocked.

Energy Minister Shrestha is also taking stock of the pressure on the supply system after the production of 431.1 MW of electricity, which is about 10 percent of the country’s total power generation capacity, was halted due to damage to hydropower projects and transmission lines. For this, Minister Shrestha is inspecting the Load Dispatch Center (LDC) at Syuchartar today. “The minister is going to the LDC in Schutachar today to inquire about the status of power supply after the floods, where the floods have affected the lights of the entire country and what is the situation,” Maharjan said.

Apart from this, the Ministry of Energy is also trying to operate the Chowghoda substation at Samudrar in Sindhupalchowk. Efforts are being made to restore the power supply through the Dhadingbesi substation in the areas from Gujuri to Galchi. Efforts are being made to restore the line by patrolling and repairing other areas where possible. The Department of Electricity System Operations has been directed to keep the system running due to the disrupted power.

Similarly, generators at Bhimphedi are ready to be sent if needed.