The Mai Khola is a river in eastern Nepal, the headwater of the
Kankai River. Its water is used for irrigation and also powers several hydroelectric plants.
Location
The Mai Khola is the main tributary of the Kankai River.
It is a perennial river that originates in springs in the
Mahabharat Range about above sea level.
It flows from north to south.
Major tributaries include the
Jog Mai Khola and
Puwa Khola
The Puwa River (or Puwa Khola) is a river in Nepal.
It is a right tributary of the Mai Khola
The Mai Khola is a river in eastern Nepal, the headwater of the Kankai River. Its water is used for irrigation and also powers several hydroelectric plant ...
.
At its confluence with the Deb Mai Khola, it takes the name of Kankai Mai River, and when it enters the
Jhapa District it becomes the
Kankai River.
The catchment area of the Mai Khola upstream from the Kankai Mai River at Chepte is , and lies entirely within the
Ilam District.
Mai AWP
The Mai Area Water Partnership (AWP) was established after a June 2002 workshop.
It is a network of local water-related institutions with the Namsaling Community Development Centre (NCDC), a
non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in h ...
, as the host institution.
The purpose was to ensure sustainable irrigation development in the Mai River basin, the only basin in Ilam.
For the purpose of a pilot project study the Mai River basin was divided into 14 sub-basins, or blocks.
The study found that two of these blocks were water-stressed and another two had only just enough water flows for present demand.
One of the challenges of the AWP was to encourage the members to work together as a network, rather than use it as a forum to air grievances.
However, it was hoped that the AWP would provide a model for similar partnerships in other parts of Nepal.
Hydroelectricity
seven hydropower projects on the Mai Khola were operational and another three were under development.
If the 6.2 MW
Puwa Khola Hydropower Station is included, the active and under construction plants total 86.97 MW output.
The projects were:
The intake to the 6.2 MW
Puwa Khola Hydropower Station is on the
Puwa River
The Puwa River (or Puwa Khola) is a river in Nepal.
It is a right tributary of the Mai Khola
The Mai Khola is a river in eastern Nepal, the headwater of the Kankai River. Its water is used for irrigation and also powers several hydroelectric plant ...
about above the Geya Danda Irrigation System.
About of water is diverted to the power station.
The diverted water flows along a headrace tunnel and then a penstock pipe to the power station, which discharges it into the left bank of the Mai Khola.
This leaves very little irrigation water in the dry season.
Notes
Sources
*
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:
Rivers of Koshi Province