KATHMANDU, Dec 10:
Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is initiating works on Khimti-Dhalkebar Transmission Line Project after the government provided compensation to owners of land falling on right-of-way of the project.
The 75-kilometer 220 Kv transmission line project had fallen in limbo after locals holding land in three-kilometer stretch in Sindhulimadi denied to provide land saying that they won”t accept compensation provided by the government. The government had offered them 10 percent of the land valuation cost as compensation.
As per the existing rule, landowners can not make any structures on the right-of-way but can cultivate even after providing land to the project.
The landowners agreed to provide land for the project after the government, through a special decision of the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, decided to acquire the land by providing 100 percent compensation to 159 landowners. The acquired land will now be used local feeder road.
Kanhaiya Kumar Manandhar, manager of the project, said the land acquisition process is at the final stage. “Plans are afoot to complete construction within three months starting Janauary,” he added.
The World Bank funded project, which was extended many times since 2009, is to terminate by the end of this December. “However, we have planned to complete the project from our own resources,” said Manandhar.
The erection of six towers and fitting of wires are the only remaining tasks in the project which was started in 2007. World Bank has provided US$ 8.4 million for the project while the government had chipped in Rs 154 million.
Once completed, the transmission line will reduce the system loss by cutting down power supply distance from existing 300 km to 75 km to eastern Nepal, the power consumption center, according to officials.
The power generated by Bhotekoshi and Khimti is currently rerouted to eastern Nepal via Kathmandu and Hetauda.
Moreover, the project will be instrumental in evacuating the power generated by Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project (456 MW) which is expected to complete in 2015.
“The project not only reduces system loss by about 10 MW, or the power enough to reduce load-shedding, but also be a lifeline in managing the load center efficiently by avoiding any trip, or system failure, with alternative transmission line to connect to Tarai,” added Mananadhar.
Problems at local level have been affecting timely completion of NEA”s transmission line projects. Transmission line spanning only 550 meters was completed in the 12th three-year interim plan that ended in fiscal year 2012/13.
To do away with the problem in land acquisition, NEA officials are discussing on a new scheme and enshrine it in law for effective implementation of the project.
Source : Republica
