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The long-awaited 828 MW “Uttarganga Reservoir Hydropower Project,” which will be built in the Dhorpatan area of Baglung, has moved forward into the construction process. The project, which has been under discussion for two decades, has now entered the implementation phase with detailed preparations.

Promoted by Uttarganga Power Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Nepal Electricity Authority, the project is expected to generate stable electricity even during the winter season after completion, contributing significantly to energy security.

The total estimated cost of the project has reached 1.08 billion US dollars, equivalent to about NPR 164 billion. Due to increased costs compared to initial estimates, the cost per megawatt is expected to reach around NPR 19 million. The rise in the US dollar exchange rate against the Nepali currency is considered the main reason for the cost escalation.

Although the project has been under discussion since 2004, its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report submitted in 2019, was only approved in 2023. The Department of Electricity Development has now made the detailed project report public and has requested affected stakeholders to provide suggestions and feedback within 35 days.

Under this project in Dhorpatan, Baglung, a 200-meter-high and 840-meter-long rock-fill dam will be constructed on the Uttarganga River. The reservoir formed behind the dam will be 14 kilometers long, with a usable water storage capacity of 419.98 million cubic meters.

Water collected in the reservoir will be transported through tunnels and dropped about 1,600 meters to generate electricity in two stages. The project will include two underground powerhouses, producing a total of 828 MW of electricity.

The generated power will be connected to the Nisi substation in Baglung via a 400 kV double-circuit transmission line. The project will also include the construction of access roads, tunnels, and other infrastructure.

The project aims to begin electricity generation from 2035. As a reservoir-based project, it is expected to produce electricity consistently in both wet and dry seasons. To maintain environmental balance, a minimum flow of water will also be released into the Uttarganga River year-round.

Urjasanchar