Recentfusion.com—Pokhara: The power production from two small hydropower projects disrupted since August 16 as soaring level of water damaged the Seti River dam in Pokhara.
Seti Phewa Hydropower Project (1.5 MW) and Task Hydro power Project (1 MW) were affected as a bulk of 3 decade old Seti dam went broken. According to Irrigation Development Division Kaski Chief Tulsi Ram Bhattarai, the dam-damage not only affected the hydro projects but also stopped the water supply to more than 1,000 hectors of paddy fields in Pokhara valley.
The Seti dam was constructed by China in 2041 BS but according to Senior Agriculture Development Officer Ramesh Koirala, the dam got broken in the absence of regular renovation and caring. Engineers and workers are awaiting the low level of water to renovate the damaged 10 meters’ bulk of 80 meters’ dam. Consumers and farmers from Fulbari, Malepatan, Bajhapatan, Kahun khola, Chauthe and Audhogik Chetra are also affected following the dam broken as they have been using the Seti canal water for daily works, for years.
Seti Dam operator Dal Bahadur Thapa said that the other bulks of the dam could also be damaged as there is no let up in water level in the river. In this connection, a technical team lead by Bashu Dev Lohoni, Deputy Director General of Irrigation Department, observed the broken dam side on Tuesday. The team has decided to renovate the dam with short term and long run plan. As per the short run plan, there will be constructed a temporary diversion to resume the hydel and irrigation projects.
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