Chameliya project completed after a decade

Published On: December 13, 2017 08:00 AM NPT By: Bira Gadal

BAITADI/ DARCHULA, Dec 13: Chameliya hydroelectric project is finally ready to supply electricity, after 10 years of its inception. The project completed test production last week, and is planning to begin supplying within a month.

The project site is located at Balach, Shailya Shikhar Municipality-1 of Darchula district in far western Nepal.

According to project chief Ajay Kumar Dahal, they had targeted to complete the project within December but rains damaged the head-box, so production was delayed.

Chameliya project had started in the Fiscal Year 2006/2007 and was scheduled to be completed in 2011. However, the project was delayed by six years.

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has said that the project was delayed due to several reasons such as misunderstanding with the contractors, technical barrier during the construction of tunnel, and transmission line problems.

Though the project investment was expected to be Rs 8.50 billion, a total of Rs 15.50 billion was invested in this project.

Project chief Dahal said that a test has been started on the substation of 132 KV transmission line that connects Balach of Darchula with Attariya of Kailali.

Civil work of the project was started in 2007 by Chinese company China Gezhouba Construction Group Corporation and other works of electromechanical, hydro mechanical and transmission line were started in 2009 by Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Company.

For immediate purpose, electricity produced by Chameliya project will be connected with the national transmission line via single circuit, project chief Dahal said.

He further said that the electricity produced by Chameliya will go to the market from January 2018. He however said that the construction of double-circuit transmission line will make it easier to connect electricity produced by Chameliya, West Seti Dam and other hydroelectric projects with the national transmission line.

Chameliya hydroelectric project is a project constructed with 100 percent investment of Nepali government.

Locals are delighted with the production of electricity at the project. Soban Singh Bohara, a local from Rudreshwor, Dilashaini Rural Municipality-3, said: “The project will now supply electricity to the remote areas that are out of the electricity access, that is why locals are very happy with this project.”