Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The government has begun making alternative arrangements for power supply after devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi River damaged several hydropower projects, knocking 430 megawatts of electricity off the national grid.
The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has begun preparations for alternative power supply after electricity flowing to Kathmandu’s Balaju and Chapali areas through the Trishuli Corridor was disrupted. The disruption has put additional pressure on the Balaju and Chapali transmission lines.
The ministry is working on developing an alternative supply system, according to ministry spokesperson Mohan Kumar Shakya. He said the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has formed a task force to address the issue.
The ministry held discussions with the Department of Roads and Kathmandu Metropolitan City on Tuesday to explore the construction of additional underground grids.
The NEA is planning to build additional underground grids as part of preparations for managing electricity demand during the winter.
Subodh Devkota, chief of the Road Division Kathmandu under the Department of Roads, has pledged the NEA necessary support and cooperation for underground grid construction.
Similarly, Suresh Kumar Rai, chief of the Public Works Department of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, also said the metropolis would cooperate in managing underground cables beneath sidewalks.
Durgananda Badiyat, chief of the Project Directorate of the NEA, said the utility would further streamline its ongoing underground cable management work in the Kathmandu Valley and closely coordinate with the Distribution and Customer Service Directorate to meet winter demand-management requirements.
