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πŸ‡³πŸ‡΅ Nawalparasi, Nepal β€” Est. 1965

Gandak
Hydropower
Station

A landmark of Nepal-India cooperation β€” harnessing the mighty Gandaki River to power homes, irrigate farmlands, and drive sustainable development across the Terai for over six decades.

⚑ Live Dashboard Explore Powerhouse
15 MW
Installed Capacity
Gandaki
Source River
1965
Commissioned
2M+
Beneficiaries
↓
15 MW
Total Capacity
~65 MU
Annual Generation
3 Units
Kaplan Turbines
1959
Treaty Signed
Narayani-Gandaki River
1965
Year Commissioned
Our History

Powering Nepal
Since 1965

The Gandak Hydropower Station β€” officially part of the Gandak Irrigation and Power Project β€” is one of the earliest large-scale run-of-river hydropower developments in Nepal. It stands at Triveni in Nawalparasi District, where the sacred rivers Gandaki, Narayani, and Kali Gandaki converge.

Born from the 1959 Gandak Treaty between Nepal and India, this multi-purpose project was designed to serve two vital needs: generate electricity for Nepal's western provinces and supply irrigation water to the fertile Terai agricultural plains across both countries.

Over six decades of continuous operation, Gandak has been a cornerstone of Nepal's energy infrastructure β€” a living example of how water resources, when wisely harnessed, can fuel development and uplift millions of lives sustainably.

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Power Generation

15 MW of clean hydroelectric power for western Nepal

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Irrigation Supply

Canal networks irrigating 100,000+ hectares of farmland

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Bilateral Project

Model Nepal-India cooperation since the 1959 treaty

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Clean Energy

Zero emissions β€” saving thousands of tons of COβ‚‚ yearly

Timeline

Key Milestones in History

1959
Gandak Treaty Signed β€” December 4, 1959
Nepal and India signed the Gandak Irrigation and Power Development Agreement. The treaty defined water rights, power sharing, cost allocation, and construction responsibilities between the two nations β€” a landmark in South Asian transboundary water diplomacy.
1961
Construction Commences
Civil and structural work began simultaneously on the Gandak Barrage at Bhaisalotan (Bihar, India) and the Nepal Eastern Canal powerhouse at Triveni, Nawalparasi. Thousands of local workers and engineers from both countries were employed over four years of construction.
1965
Station Commissioned β€” 15 MW Online
The Gandak Hydropower Station was officially commissioned with three Kaplan turbine-generator units, each rated at 5 MW. The Nepal Eastern Canal began supplying irrigation water, transforming agriculture across the Terai plains.
1996
Major Rehabilitation by NEA
Nepal Electricity Authority undertook comprehensive rehabilitation of all three turbine-generator sets, control panels, protection relays, and 33kV transformers. Efficiency improved markedly post-rehabilitation, restoring the station to near-original design performance.
2015
Post-Earthquake Structural Assessment
Following the April 2015 Gorkha Earthquake (M7.8), the powerhouse and barrage underwent thorough structural integrity assessments by engineers. Civil structures were found sound; minor retrofitting and drainage works were completed to reinforce seismic resilience.
2025
SCADA Modernization Underway
NEA initiated installation of a next-generation SCADA digital control system at Gandak. The upgrade enables real-time remote monitoring, digital fault recording, predictive maintenance alerts, and integration with Nepal's national load dispatch center.
In Depth

Gandak Powerhouse β€” Complete Overview

A detailed look at the civil structure, electromechanical systems, irrigation role, environmental significance, and socioeconomic impact of one of Nepal's most historic hydropower stations.

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Barrage Structure & Gates

The Gandak Barrage is a concrete gravity weir spanning the Gandaki River at Bhaisalotan on the India-Nepal border. It features 36 Tainter (radial) gates and 18 under-sluice gates for precise flow regulation. The barrage is engineered to safely pass peak monsoon floods exceeding 28,000 mΒ³/s. A fish ladder is incorporated to support local aquatic biodiversity.

36 Tainter Gates
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Kaplan Turbines β€” How They Work

The powerhouse houses three vertical-shaft Kaplan axial-flow turbines, each rated 5 MW. Kaplan turbines use adjustable-pitch runner blades β€” like a ship's propeller β€” that automatically optimize blade angle for varying flow and head conditions, achieving ~88% peak efficiency. At Gandak's low net head (~9.4 m) and high discharge, Kaplan is the only efficient turbine choice.

3 Γ— 5 MW = 15 MW
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Canal & Intake System

Water is diverted via the Nepal Eastern Canal β€” approximately 75 km long β€” from the barrage to the powerhouse headworks. The intake includes trash racks, stop-log gates, and a settling basin that removes sediment before water enters the penstock and turbines. The design discharge to the powerhouse is 42.45 mΒ³/s, with the majority of canal flow directed to irrigation.

42.45 mΒ³/s Powerhouse
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Generator & Electrical Systems

Each turbine drives a synchronous AC generator rated at 5 MVA. Generated power at 11 kV is stepped up to 33 kV by the powerhouse transformers, then evacuated via 33 kV overhead transmission lines to the Nawalparasi substation. From there, power enters Nepal's national 132 kV interconnected grid through step-up transformation.

11 kV β†’ 33 kV Grid
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Control & Protection Systems

The station operates with automatic load dispatch coordinated with NEA's load dispatch center. Protection includes: overspeed governors, differential and earth-fault protection relays, automatic voltage regulators (AVR), Buchholz relay on transformers, and emergency shutdown systems. The 2025 SCADA upgrade adds remote telemetry, AI-based anomaly detection, and digital oscillography.

24/7 Automated Control
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Irrigation Network Impact

The project's greatest contribution is irrigation. The Nepal Eastern Canal and its network of branch canals and distributaries irrigate approximately 100,000 hectares in Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, and Nawalparasi districts. Rice, wheat, sugarcane, and pulses depend on this system, directly supporting over 2 million farmers and underpinning Nepal's food security.

100,000+ ha Irrigated
Key Facts

Why Gandak Matters

Six reasons this 60-year-old station remains critical to Nepal's development.

01

Nepal's Pioneer Bilateral Hydro Project

The Gandak Project was among the first large-scale hydropower and irrigation developments under a bilateral treaty in all of South Asia. The 1959 agreement remains a reference model for transboundary water resource management and has influenced subsequent Nepal-India water treaties.

02

Run-of-River β€” Seasonal Generation Profile

As a run-of-river plant, Gandak generates electricity using the natural flow of the Gandaki River without significant reservoir storage. Generation peaks during monsoon (July–September) when river flow is highest, and drops in winter dry season. This makes integration with storage plants and the national grid critical for year-round supply reliability.

03

3 Billion Units of Clean Energy Generated

Since its 1965 commissioning, Gandak has generated over 3 billion kWh of clean electricity β€” all from renewable hydropower. This has displaced millions of tonnes of COβ‚‚ that would have been emitted by equivalent fossil fuel plants, making the station one of Nepal's most impactful green energy assets per unit of investment.

04

Backbone of Terai Agriculture

Nepal's Terai belt produces over 65% of national food grain. The Gandak irrigation system is a lifeline for this productivity β€” supplying canal water during the critical pre-monsoon planting season when natural rainfall is insufficient. Crop failures in the Terai would directly impact national food security and rural livelihoods for millions.

05

Challenges: Sedimentation & Aging Infrastructure

The Gandaki River carries one of the world's highest sediment loads from its Himalayan catchment. This causes rapid abrasion wear on Kaplan turbine runners, requiring frequent replacement. The aging civil structures (60+ years old) also demand increasing maintenance investment. NEA is studying capacity rehabilitation and potential expansion under Nepal's long-term energy plan.

06

Sacred Confluence β€” Triveni, Nawalparasi

The powerhouse sits at Triveni (Sanskrit: "tri" = three, "veni" = braids) β€” the sacred confluence of the Gandaki, Kaligandaki, and Narayani rivers. This site holds immense religious significance for Hindus and Buddhists. The coexistence of modern industrial infrastructure with an ancient sacred confluence makes Gandak uniquely symbolic of Nepal's balance between tradition and modernity.

Where We Are

Location

Situated at Triveni, Nawalparasi District β€” at the sacred confluence of the Gandaki, Kaligandaki, and Narayani rivers in Province No. 5, Nepal.

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Address

Triveni, Nawalparasi
Province No. 5, Nepal

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Coordinates

27Β°33β€²N 83Β°52β€²E

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River

Gandaki / Narayani
River System

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Nearest Town

Narayanghat ~35 km
Bhairahawa ~60 km

Engineering

Technical Specifications

Core engineering parameters of the Gandak Hydropower Station powerhouse.

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Installed Capacity

Total rated electrical generating capacity across three Kaplan turbine-generator units at design operating conditions.

15 MW
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Turbine Type

Vertical-shaft Kaplan axial-flow turbines with adjustable-pitch runner blades β€” ideal for low head, high discharge run-of-river operation.

Kaplan Turbines
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Dam / Barrage

Concrete gravity barrage with Tainter (radial) gates β€” diverts river flow without significant reservoir storage behind the structure.

Concrete Barrage
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Design Discharge

Maximum design water flow through the powerhouse intake at full-capacity generation operation.

42.45 mΒ³/s
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Net Head

Effective hydraulic head β€” difference between upstream headwater and downstream tailwater levels at turbine centerline.

~9.4 m
πŸ”‹

Peak Efficiency

Maximum hydraulic efficiency of Kaplan runners at design flow, maintained by automatic blade pitch adjustment mechanism.

~88%

How Gandak Generates Power

Water from the Gandaki River travels through a carefully engineered pathway to become electricity delivered to your home.

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Gandaki River
β†’
🚧
Barrage / Weir
β†’
🌊
Canal Intake
β†’
πŸŒ€
Kaplan Turbine
β†’
βš™οΈ
AC Generator
β†’
πŸ”Œ
Transformer 33kV
β†’
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National Grid

The Gandaki's gravitational potential energy converts to kinetic energy in the penstock β†’ rotational mechanical energy in the Kaplan turbine β†’ electrical energy via electromagnetic induction in the synchronous generator β†’ high-voltage AC power evacuated to the national grid.

Analytics

Power Generation Dashboard

Historical generation analytics and real-time KPIs for plant performance monitoring.

Generation Output

12.4
Current Output (MW)
↑ 3.2% today
82%
Plant Efficiency
↑ 1.5% week
4.8M
kWh This Month
↓ 0.8% vs last
98.2%
Uptime
↑ Excellent

Unit-wise Output (MW)

Real-Time

Live Monitoring

Simulated plant sensor readings β€” updates every 3 seconds.

Canal Water Level
7.6
metres
Normal
Max: 9.4m | Min: 5.0m
Alert: 8.8m
Turbine Speed
82
RPM %
Units 1 & 3 Running
Unit 2: Maintenance
Vibration: Normal
Canal Flow Rate
31.2
mΒ³/s
Moderate Flow
Design: 42.45 mΒ³/s
Efficiency: 73%

Live Event Feed

Tools

Energy Output Calculator

Estimate hydropower generation using: P = ρ Γ— g Γ— Q Γ— H Γ— Ξ·  (Power = density Γ— gravity Γ— flow Γ— head Γ— efficiency)

Calculate Power Output

Estimated Output

3.4
MW Power Output
81.8
MWh / Day
2,487
MWh / Month
29.9K
MWh / Year
21.2K
Tons COβ‚‚ Saved/yr
Updates

News & Announcements

15
Mar

Annual Maintenance Shutdown Completed Successfully

The planned 10-day annual maintenance shutdown completed ahead of schedule. All three Kaplan turbine units serviced, bearings replaced, runner blades inspected for cavitation damage, and generator windings tested. Full 15 MW capacity restored.

Maintenance
28
Feb

Record Winter Peak Output β€” 13.8 MW Achieved

Gandak achieved a record 13.8 MW peak in February 2025, despite low winter river flow. Attributed to optimized blade pitch management and recently upgraded Kaplan runner profiles that reduced hydraulic losses.

Milestone
10
Jan

SCADA Modernization Initiated by NEA

NEA has initiated installation of a next-generation SCADA digital control and monitoring system. The upgrade includes remote telemetry, AI-based predictive maintenance alerts, and integration with Nepal's national load dispatch center.

Technology
05
Dec

All 36 Barrage Tainter Gates Inspected β€” All Clear

Annual inspection of the barrage's 36 Tainter gates and 18 sluice gates completed. No structural deficiencies found. Minor corrosion treated on gates 7 and 12. Hydraulic seals replaced on 8 gates. Next inspection: November 2025.

Inspection
⚠️ Maintenance Notice

Unit 2 brush replacement β€” Apr 10–12, 2025. Partial capacity expected during this period.

ℹ️ Monsoon Forecast

Above-normal inflow predicted July–Sept 2025. Spillway readiness inspection underway.

βœ… 3 Billion kWh Milestone

Cumulative generation crossed 3 Billion kWh in January 2025 β€” a historic landmark.

πŸ“‹ Tender Notice

NEA invites bids for Gandak control room renovation. Deadline: May 15, 2025.

🌿 Green Rating

FY 2024 Environmental compliance report approved by MOFE. Station rated Green.

Get in Touch

Contact Us

We'd Love
to Hear from You

For official inquiries, technical consultations, educational visits, media requests, or project collaborations, reach out to the Gandak Hydropower Station administration office.

πŸ“
Address

Triveni, Nawalparasi District
Province No. 5, Nepal – 32400

πŸ“ž
Phone

+977-78-520XXX (Admin)
+977-78-520XXX (Control Room 24/7)

βœ‰οΈ
Email

gandak@nea.org.np
info@gandakhydro.gov.np

πŸ•
Office Hours

Sunday–Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM NPT
Control Room: 24/7

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