Khadga Bahadur Bisht, president of Independent Power Producers Association, Nepal (IPPAN), said projects will now consider external factors like earthquake-triggered landslides and cracks on land while designing projects. "We have learnt a lesson. Now we will examine risks outside the project sites and take mitigation measures accordingl"," Bisht said, referring to Upper Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project which has suffered damages in penstock pipes and also seen rock fall in the project site.Over a dozen projects, including Upper Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project, with total capacity of 80 MW have been shut down. They have suffered cumulative loss of Rs 2.30 billion including loss in revenue.
Independent power developers have asked the government to announce compensation package and introduce policy reforms so that they would be able to repair the projects at the earliest.
According to developers, underground infrastructures of hydropower projects are safe compared to those on surface.
Most of the hydropower projects, including under construction projects, have been affected by quake-triggered landslides. Because of this, hundreds of construction workers were evacuated from half a dozen projects. They are yet to return to work.
Developers fear more landslides will hit them during monsoon.
Organizing a press meet on Friday, IPPAN said that they have demanded that the government conduct a geological study and hazard mapping in river basins to prevent further damages.
The developers have also said they would take mitigation measures while designing projects as per the findings of the study.
Structures of hydropower projects are designed to withstand earthquake measuring 8 on Richter scale."
"Reservoir projects generally have life of 100 years, while run-of-river projects have life of 50 years," Madhu Bhetwal, deputy director general at the Department of Electricity Development, said. Bhetwal also said project's size and geological locations are also considered while assessing threats from seismic, flood and glacial lakes outburst flood risks.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Energy is mulling over conducting a study to assess geological threats in post-earthquake situation.
A quake-triggered landslide had blocked Kaligandaki River near Beni for nearly 17 hours around three weeks ago, forcing officials of Kaligandai Hydropower Project, a downstream project, to open all the gates of the project's dam.
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