The power plant, owned by Sanima Hydropower Limited, remained underwater for 37 days after a landslide dammed the river creating a lake in August. Project officials said that the infrastructure of the 2.6 MW project had suffered massive damage, and that it would be some time before the powerhouse came back online. The hydropower project was developed by non-resident Nepalis (NRNs).

The project’s powerhouse, turbine and switch yard and penstock pipe have been destroyed by sand and mud. The machines in the powerhouse are buried under a pile of sand. A total of 14 transmission line towers have been completed destroyed.

Project officials said that they had changed the 1.3-km-long GRP pipe with an improved penstock pipe at a cost of Rs 130 million.

Director of the project Subarna Lal Shrestha said that the power plant could not be brought back into operation with a little investment and maintenance. He added that they were still assessing the exact damage to the hydropower plant after the water level in the landslide lake dropped. “The project seems to be in need of restructuring, and that will cost a lot of money, maybe as much as needed to build a new plant,” said Shrestha. He added that it would take at least a year before the plant resumed generating electricity.

“We have to think if it will be risky rebuilding the powerhouse at the same location,” he added. The roof of the powerhouse has caved in and its walls have cracks all over.

The August 2 landslide at Jure, Sindhupalchok and subsequent blocking of the Sunkoshi River by the landslide submerged the project’s powerhouse, part of the penstock pipe and residential building.

The project’s Public Relations Officer Kamal Khakurel said that they were still trying to figure out where to start rebuilding to bring it back to its previous status. “There is not a single machine that has not been covered by sand,” he added.

Khakurel predicted that it may take two-three months just to remove the sand from the powerhouse and other structures, and said that it was doubtful whether the machines would work again.

The project had started power production a decade ago. Shrestha has asked for government help to revive the project as it was destroyed by a natural disaster.