Kathmandu. Hydroelectricity Investment and Development Company Limited has contributed Rs 10.1 million to the Prime Minister’s Natural Disaster Relief Fund for the rescue, relief and rehabilitation of the communities affected by the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods.
According to the company, the amount provided under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was donated to the Prime Minister’s Natural Disaster Relief Fund through the Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation. According to the company, the assistance will contribute to the immediate humanitarian rescue and relief work after the floods.
The devastating floods on August 26 have caused huge loss of life and property in the Trishuli River corridor including Rasuwa, Nuwakot. The floods have also caused serious damage to hydropower projects, transmission and distribution infrastructure, as well as roads, bridges and local infrastructure.
HIDCL has stated that along with immediate relief and rescue, a large amount of long-term finance will be required for revival, reconstruction and climate resilient restoration of the Trishuli Corridor.
Keeping this need in mind, the company has committed to play a leading role in developing a separate ‘Trishuli Corridor Recovery and Resilience Financing Architecture’ for the revitalization of the affected hydropower and energy infrastructure.
Under this, the concept has been put forward to not only rehabilitate the hydropower and energy infrastructures damaged by floods but also to develop the long-term financial mechanism required to reconstruct the infrastructures so that they can be less damaged by such disasters in the future.
Since the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli corridor is an important hydropower and energy infrastructure area in Nepal, it will require huge investment in the reconstruction of the existing projects as well as the damage to infrastructure including transmission, roads and bridges. The proposed financial structure of HIDCL is expected to lay the groundwork for mobilizing resources for long-term recovery through immediate relief for such reconstruction.
