Around three dozen hydropower projects have been worst hit by the recent flood that hit Eastern Nepal last week. The rain and flood of June 16 and 17 in four districts damaged 30 hydropower projects creating a loss of Rs 8.5bn. A preliminary study carried out by Independent Power Producers Association Nepal (IPPAN) shows 30 hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 463 MW were damaged by the floods in Taplejung, Panchthar, Sankhuwasabha, and Bhojpur districts in the third week of June. According to IPPAN, of the 30 projects, 17 were under-construction projects. Among the projects that were already operating, the Lower Hewa Khola sustained the biggest loss. The 22.1 MW project has been the worst hit; it suffered a loss of Rs 1bn due to the flood.

IPPAN has claimed that the 25 MW Kabeli B-1 Project suffered damage of Rs 500m. In terms of damage to physical infrastructure, the 4.7 MW Upper Piluwa-2 Hydropower Project has been the worst hit.

According to Deepak Khadka, president of Menchiyam Hydropower which developed the Upper Piluwa-2, the project has suffered a loss of Rs 900m. Khadka said that the physical structures such as headworks, pipe alignment, and powerhouse have been completely damaged and it will take more than two years for the reconstruction of the project. The 14.9 MW Hewa Khola Project has suffered a loss of Rs 950m. IPPAN has said that 17 under-construction hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 327 MW suffered losses of over Rs 2bn due to floods. Among the under-construction projects, the most damage was seen in the Super Hewa Khola Project with estimated losses of Rs 800m. The construction work of the Super Hewa Khola Project was 90 percent completed before the flood hit it badly. Harka Bahadur Tamang, chairman of the project, said it will take two years to complete the project now. Similarly, the 97.5 MW Isuwakhola Hydropower Project and 9.7 MW Ingwa Khola Hydropower Project sustained damages of Rs 500mn each. IPPAN is preparing to present the details of the losses to the Prime Minister, Finance Minister, Energy Minister, NRB Governor, and Nepal Insurance Authority Chairman. IPPAN President Ganesh Karki has written a letter to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday, seeking time to present the details of damages done by the flood.