In addition to the project construction, Ridi Hydropower Development Company has been participated in different social development work such as rural electrification, irrigation management and upliftment, Drinking Water Facilities, Share Investment, School Upliftment, Plantation etc. of the project area for the betterment of the society.

1. Rural Electrification

Of the five project affected Village Development Committees (VDC), almost all of the area are connected with the national grid, however, ward  no. 6 of Digam VDC at the headworks area of the project was deprived of grid connection. Ridi Hydropower Development Company Limited has helped the community to electrify the 336 households of that area. The company has provided technical and cash support to the community for the electrification. The electrification was done through 80:20 programme of the government of Nepal. Under this scheme 80% cost was born by the government and remaining 20% percent cost has been borne by the company. The headworks area is now electrified and connected electricity line from the powerhouse area. The project area is now benefited of regular electricity from the powerhouse.

2. Irrigation Canal Management

The Ridikhola Project is built with a combination of irrigation and electricity generation. There are five irrigation canals in the project area. The company has upgraded and managed the irrigation of the project area. Of the five irrigation canals, water for irrigation just downstream of the headworks area has been provided through the forebay tank (Fig. 1) build adjacent to desiliting basin.  Water from forebay has been collected in a chamber and it is conveyed with the help of two HDPE pipes of 200m length kept underground across the Satmure stream. After the river crossing, water from HDPE pipe is dropped into the existing irrigation canal.

Pic. 1 : Water Release from Forebay for Irrigation

The remaining four irrigation canals are managed from the middle of the project area. Water for these irrigation canals are provided from Sardewa River that lies downstream of the Ridikhola Project headworks. A new dam (Fig. 2) of about 28m length and 3m height is built by the company across the Ridi River to collect water of Sardewa river. From the dam area canal is constructed to channelized large volume of water into the existing irrigation canal.

Fig. 2 : Dam Constructed for Irrigation Purpose

A 186m long metal pipes (Pic. 3) of 8″ diameter was constructed across the river to irrigate land across the river at Argeli VDC. From this metal pipe water is dropped into the existing canal so that farmers can managed their irrigation plan as usual.

Fig. 3 : Penstock Pipe crossing for Irrigation of Land Across the River

In addition to these the company has upgraded the irrigation canals at different sections. A continuous irrigation canal of 500m length (Pic. 4) is newly built by the company.

3. Drinking Water

Drinking water facility was scare at Eklipipal area of Ruru VDC. To fulfill the scarcity, drinking water project was constructed by the company in coordination with the villagers. The project has facilitates 50 households for clean drinking water. The drinking water is tapped from spring source at a distance of 2km away from the village.

4. Support to Schools

The company has provided financial support for their betterment of Schools at the project affected area. Ridi Company has provided financial support to Vatkuwa Lower Secondary School, Suryojyoti Primary School, Janajyoti Primary Schools of Ruru VDC, Bhutukdevi Lower Secondary School of Siddeshwor VDC and Boha Saraswati Primary School of Digam VDC.

5. Share Investment Opportunity

Ridi Company has requested to local villagers to invest in the project and get benefit from the project. The company has provided share investment opportunity at a lower limit of Rs. 10000.00 (approx. US$ 133). Of the total 274 promoter shareholders half of the number are from the local area investing Rs. 10 million in total.

6. Plantation

To minimize the loss of plants by the project construction, the company has conducted plantation at the project area. Different plants of about 5000 numbers have been planted in the project area in coordination with Forest Users Group and District Forest Office.