MYAGDI: Construction has begun on a hydropower project utilizing the Kaligandaki River, which flows through Annapurna Rural Municipality in Myagdi.

This is the first hydropower project to be built on the Kaligandaki River in this area.

Hydro Support Company has started constructing the 66.3 MW Middle Kaligandaki Hydropower Project.

Civil contractor Rasuwa-Multi JV has commenced excavation of a 4,319-meter-long tunnel at Nagdhang of Annapurna-2 using explosives since last week, informed Hydro Support’s Director Chandra Dhakal.

The audit tunnel stretches 459 meters. Preparations are underway to start tunnel excavation from the dam side within this month of Shrawan, and from the outlet side by winter.

A 12-meter-high and 35-meter-long dam will be constructed at Sukebagar of Annapurna-3 to divert water, which will then fall from a height of 151 meters into an underground powerhouse to be built at Naunibagar of Annapurna-2 for electricity generation.

The run-of-the-river type project will have an underground powerhouse, switchyard, and control room.

CEO of Rasuwa-Multi JV, Phanindra Raj Pandey, stated that advanced equipment, including a boomer robotic shotcrete machine, has been brought for the tunnel construction.