Darchula’s 28.30 MW Madhya Chameliya Hydropower Project to be built at cost of over Rs 6 billion

Dhangadhi: Another hydropower project is set to be constructed on the Chameliya River, which has emerged as a major hydropower hub of Sudurpaschim Province. The 28.30 MW Madhya Chameliya Hydropower Project promoted by Darchula Power Company will be built on the river.

Located within the Api Nampa Conservation Area of Darchula, the project site falls under Marma Rural Municipality. The Department of Electricity Development granted the power generation license for the river-based project on Chaitra 13, 2081. The entire structure of the project has been proposed on the left bank of the Chameliya River.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Environment issued a public notice on Monday regarding the supplementary environmental impact assessment of the project. Earlier, the environmental impact assessment report of the project was approved by the then Ministry of Forest and Environment on Chaitra 7, 2080. Similarly, approval was received for the supplementary environmental impact assessment study on Poush 12, 2082.

The notice stated that the study is being conducted to assess possible environmental impacts arising from design changes and relocation of project structures. A power purchase agreement was signed between Nepal Electricity Authority and the project promoter Chameliya Power Limited on Asoj 29, 2080. The financial management of the project was also completed on Jestha 21, 2082.

The proposed project site is located around 30 kilometers northwest of Gokuleshwor in Darchula. The 40 MW Upper Chameliya Hydropower Project is located upstream of the project, while the 30 MW Chameliya Khola Hydropower Project is located downstream. The electricity generated from the project will be connected to the Nepal Electricity Authority’s Balach Substation.

The project is expected to generate 118.52 gigawatt hours of electricity during the rainy season and 67.100 gigawatt hours during the winter season. The project, targeted for completion within the next three years, has an estimated total cost of Rs 6.236 billion 62 lakh 67 thousand 390.