Narendra Singh Karki    

Darchula, March 12: Construction of various hydropower projects in Darchula district has speeded up. These projects with investment of private sector aim to general 100 megawatts electricity from the district itself within two years. Approximately half a dozen hydropower projects are under construction while some have started producing power.    

Thirty megawatts Chameliya hydropower project at Shailyashikhar Municipality-1 has been producing electricity after its completion four years ago. The approximately Rs 15.6 billion project was a joint investment of the Nepal Electricity Authority, China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC) and Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Company (KHNP).    

Likewise, eight megawatts Upper Naugad and 8.5 megawatts Naugad hydropower projects both based at Naugad Rural Municipality have been producing power. Api Power Company completed the projects in 2076 BS within the deadline.    

The 40 megawatts Upper Chameliya hydropower project, said to be the second biggest in Sudurpaschim Province, based at Marma Rural Municipality-2 is under construction. Its construction has expedited, said Indra Mani Trital, proprietor of the constructing company, Api Power Company. "Now construction is underway.

We targets its completion in time (within 20 months of the construction that started four months ago)," he said. The project cost is Rs 7.4 billion.    

Forty-eight micro hydel projects have been constructed in the district with the support of the Poverty Alleviation Fund. Five thousand 963 households have access to electricity in the district.