Continuous rainfall fills Kulekhani reservoir, dam gates partially opened to manage overflow
The water level in the reservoir has reached 1530.93 meters above sea level.
KATHMANDU: Due to continuous rainfall, the reservoir of the Kulekhani Hydropower Plant in Makwanpur has been filled.
As the water level in the reservoir rose and began to overflow through the spillway, two gates of the dam were partially opened at 5:45 AM on Saturday.
Despite running the 60 MW power plant at full capacity since Friday, the reservoir’s storage capacity was still reached due to relentless rainfall in the watershed area.
The water level in the reservoir has reached 1530.93 meters above sea level.
According to Tara Dutta Bhatta, the chief of the hydropower plant, the gates were partially opened when the water level reached 1530.35 meters.
Chief Bhatta mentioned that, given the ongoing heavy rainfall with storms in the Kulekhani watershed area, both gates might need to be fully opened.
The opening of the dam gates is expected to increase the flow of the Bagmati River in the lower coastal region.
Therefore, the hydropower plant has urged residents in those areas to remain safe and exercise high caution.
