Kathmandu- The process for constructing the 328-megawatt Bharabung Hydropower Project in Dolpa district has formally moved forward, with the Department of Electricity Development initiating detailed studies and the environmental impact assessment process.
The reservoir-based project will utilize water from the Bharabung and Tatu rivers and is planned within Chharka Tangsong Rural Municipality and Kaike Rural Municipality of Dolpa, a district regarded as underdeveloped in terms of infrastructure and economic growth.
The Department stated that the project’s environmental impact assessment report has been submitted to the Ministry of Forests and Environment, along with a recommendation from the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, for approval. The project is described as water-free in operational nature, with electricity generation designed through multiple systems.
According to project details, 325 megawatts will be generated from the Bharabung River, while an additional two systems of 3.10 megawatts each will be operated using 1.12 cusecs of water from the Tatu River under a run-of-the-river model. The combined systems are expected to generate 933.19 gigawatt hours of electricity annually.
Project infrastructure will affect areas of Chharka Tangsong Rural Municipality–4 and 5 and Kaike Rural Municipality–1. Plans include the construction of a 169-metre-high dam, a 766-metre-long diversion tunnel, intake structures, and a 16-kilometre-long headrace tunnel in Chharka Tangsong–4. An underground powerhouse and water discharge canal will be developed in Chharka Tangsong–4 and Kaike–1, while the project reservoir will inundate parts of Chharka Tangsong–5.
The project site lies approximately 12 kilometres from Jufal Airport in Dolpa. Electricity generated from the project will be transmitted through two proposed substations. The total estimated cost of the project stands at Rs 103.31 billion, with the per-megawatt cost calculated at approximately Rs 285.9 million.
The project, promoted by Jhyamolonga Hydropower Development Company Limited, falls within the Annapurna Conservation Area. As per the revised and approved Environmental Management Plan, the use of 9.65 hectares of forest land and 0.95 hectares of private land within the conservation area has already been approved.
The Ministry of Forests and Environment has issued a public notice seeking suggestions and feedback for preparing a supplementary environmental impact assessment report. The revised assessment has been initiated following changes in project design, including a reduction in the length of the headrace tunnel, an increase in the penstock pipe length, and relocation of the powerhouse area. The Ministry has stated that additional land requirements will be incorporated into the revised environmental report based on the feedback received.
