KATHMANDU: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has said that the search continues for employees of hydropower projects who went missing following floods in the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river system on August 26.
Addressing the House of Representatives (HoR) meeting today on the loss of lives and property in the energy sector caused by the devastating floods, as well as ongoing response efforts and future plans, Minister Shrestha said the search for the missing continues inside hydropower project tunnels in coordination with the Nepali Army and foreign experts.
As many as 900 employees of the Nepal Electricity Authority and other hydropower projects remain unaccounted for following the disaster.
“We have deployed all our resources to the very last door of possibility for search and rescue. Our primary duty right now is to continue search and rescue efforts to the utmost, treat the injured, restore displaced families, and quickly rebuild damaged infrastructure, including electricity, roads, and bridges. Returning the lives of affected citizens to normal is the highest responsibility of the state,” Minister Shrestha said.
He said 11 hydropower projects were shut down due to the floods. Of the 1,433 people working at the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project, 955 were safely rescued, he said.
According to preliminary estimates, around Rs 390 billion 623 million will be required for the overall revival of the energy sector, Minister Shrestha said.
He informed the HoR that a decision had been made to provide immediate relief of Rs 500,000 and 50 percent of the salary for six months to the dependent families of Electricity Authority employees who remain unaccounted for after going missing while serving the nation during the floods.
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