Restoration work for the 126-megawatt Dagachhu Hydropower Plant in Dagana is in full swing. The heavy rainfall last month caused major damage to the headrace channel of the hydropower plant. The hydropower plant was subsequently shut down as a precautionary measure.
The heavy rain last month eroded a slope and damaged more than half of the Dagachhu Hydropower Corporation’s headrace channel. The dam, desilter, and powerhouse remain intact and unaffected, and the plant has been releasing water through the dam gates since the incident.
Restoration work to stabilise the slope began a few days after the damage occurred.
The efforts include constructing boulder barriers, building a gabion wall, and carrying out backfilling and compaction to protect the slope. A private construction firm is undertaking the work.
Officials say the damaged headrace channel will be replaced once the stabilisation works are complete.
An expert team is expected to visit the site in the coming days to assess long-term solutions for the plant’s operation and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in future. The team will also discuss the replacement of the damaged channel.
Meanwhile, the office is exploring ways to resume temporary power generation before full restoration is completed.
The Dagachhu Hydropower Plant was commissioned in 2015.
Pema Tshewang, Dagana
Edited by Sangay Chezom
