The construction of the headworks complex of the 32 Megawatt Yungichhu Hydropower Project in Maedtsho Gewog in Lhuentse was inaugurated on Wednesday. The Headworks complex comprises the construction of temporary water diversion, barrage, intake structures and desilting chambers that will divert and deliver water to the powerhouse for power generation. The construction is expected to complete in three years.
Around 80 DeSuups were engaged in the construction of the headworks complex. A set of skilled engineers, supervisors, operators and workers were deployed to guide the DeSuups. The rest of the construction will be awarded to the local contractors.
In the meantime, with the road and bridge construction towards the project’s powerhouse, the residents have already started reaping the benefits.
“As our village is located in a remote place, we don’t have an accessible market to sell our farm produce. If we have to take our farm produce to Autsho and Monggar the transportation charge is expensive. It costs about Nu 7,000 to transport farm produce from here to Autsho and Monggar. But with the ongoing hydropower project construction, we are happy that we can easily sell our farm produce at the campsite,” said Tshering Dorji, a resident of Oong-gar chiwog in Maedtsho Gewog.
“We didn’t dream of having such a project in our village. We are happy that the construction work has started. Our village is also developing compared to the past years. We are already benefitting from the hydropower project and we are expecting to reap more benefits in future as well,” added Yuden, another resident.
“With the construction of the Yungichu hydro project, people are excited to start commercial vegetable farming as there won’t be market issues like in the past. The construction of a bailey bridge got delayed due to the failure of the contractor. But thanks to the ongoing construction of the project, a bridge and a road have been constructed which will benefit the people here,” echoed Tashi Namgyel, Oong-gar Tshogpa.
The Yungichu Hydropower Project is being constructed at a cost of Nu 3.5bn. Once complete, the project is expected to meet the energy demand at the local level during disasters when the power supply from the main grid is disrupted.
Meanwhile, similar projects, including the 54 MW Burgangchhu Hydropower Project in Zhemgang and an 18 MW Suchhu Hydropower Project in Haa, are in full swing. The government started the construction of the projects to accelerate the economy and generate employment.
Sonam Tshering, Lhuentse
Edited by Sonam Pem
