Kathmandu, Apr. 5: Ilam (Puwa Khola) hydel project has started power production on commercial basis following phase-wise successful test operation of various equipment installed at its power house.

The power generated from the project has been fed into the central grid since April 4.

All the equipment including turbine generator, governor, switching system and transformers were recently instatted in the two units of project implemented with the joint investment of His Majesty’s Government and Nepal Electricity Authority. The power house is now manned by the technicians of NEA.

According to the project chief Bishnu Bahadur Singh, all the tasks concerning design, construction supervision and quality control had been completed with internal resources and indigenous technology.

A 4-metres heigh and 30-metre long barrage has been constructed under the project.

The waters of Puwakhola has been diverted through the 2.5-km underground tunnel to the head tank and reservoir constructed at Golakharka on the bank of Mai River. The reservior stretching over 925 square feet has a capacity of 2,000 cubic metres.

The power house releases the waters to the Mai River through a 30-metre long tail race.

The project is to generate on an average 4.8 crores kilowatt hour electricity annually.

The 4-km-long 33 kv transmission line built up to the Ilam terminal has been linked up with the national grid system.

The entire project will entail a cost of around  15.5 million us dollar, 25 per cent of which is to be borne by hmg and the rest by nea.

The per unit cost of its power generation is Rs. 2.80 and the total investment in the project is expected to be recovered within next 5-6 years.

The project under construction is of run-of-river type and its environmental pollution factor is negligible.

In order to improve the surrounding environment of the project, tree plantation has been carried out and a follow-up is now underway with the help of the local consultant.

With the operation of the project, it will help significantly in the setting up of cottage and small industries, tea processing industries,   production of fruits and vegetable in the locality.

The project provided a 3-month house wiring training to some 20 local persons who were affected in one way or other by the project.

The major contractors for the civil engineering work of barrage, tunnel and power house are China national water resources and hydro power engineering corporation and Laxmi Shrestha Power Company of Nepal.

The construction of gates and penstock pipes were completed under the hydro mechanical work by Nepal Hydro and Electric Company Pvt. Ltd., Butwal and installation of turbines, generators and switches under electro-mechanical works by the Hongphang Electric Corporation, China.