Traffic is going to be operated throughout the rainy season by diversion through penstock pipe at Hewa Khola in Panchthar under the Mechi National Highway, which is suffering from disasters like floods and landslides.
The road division, Ilam, has completed the preparation for crossing the river by cutting water through 4 penstock pipes, one with a height of 3.5 meters and 3 with a height of 2.2 meters. For the third time, after the under construction modular bridge broke during installation, diversion was done through penstock pipe as an alternative.
The diversion made by keeping the penstock is ready to allow traffic from Sunday. The water will pass through the four pipes at the rate of 78 cubic meters per second easily, said Pawan Bhattarai, the head of the division.
This option was sought after the residents of Taplejung and Yangwarak Hilihang and Phalelung villages of Taplejung and Panchthar were directly affected due to the lack of a bridge.
"With the special coordination of the chief district officer of Taplejung, Netra Prasad Sharma, the construction work of the structure has been started with the availability of penstock pipes from the hydro power operators," said division head Bhattarai.
As large amount of water is cut from the penstock, the technicians estimate that there will be no problem until the big stones are washed away.
Under the Mechi Highway, a concrete bridge was washed away by the flood that first occurred on 2nd June 2080 in Hewakhola, which separates the borders of Fidim Municipality and Hilihang Rural Municipality of Panchthar. This option was sought after the Belybridge installed after that was swept away by the flood on October 12, 2081, and the modular bridge installed for the third time broke on May 31, 2082.
