The Nepal Electricity Authority has initiated the extension of a 33 KVA power transmission line to Corolla on the China border. According to the authority, if the work continues at the current pace, full-capacity electricity will reach Corolla Naka by next August. Corolla Naka is situated at an altitude of approximately 4,600 meters above sea level.
Currently, low-voltage electricity has reached the Upper Mustang region, causing difficulties for locals. Due to the insufficient power supply, even basic appliances like heaters fail to function properly. To address this issue, the authority is upgrading the transmission line’s capacity. In the first phase, 104 km of wiring is being installed, along with the erection of 2,265 poles, each measuring 11 meters in height.
Additionally, the construction of two substations is underway to facilitate high-voltage power transmission over approximately 115 km from Kobang to Charang. This work is being carried out under the Nawalpur Rural Electrification and Chusang-Mustang 33 KVA Transmission Line and Substation Construction Project. Paradise Hulas JKB JV has been awarded a contract worth 28 crores for the project.
In the freezing temperatures of Upper Mustang, the low voltage prevents even standard heaters from operating. Bimal Raut, head of the empowerment project, stated that the government is working on upgrading electrification infrastructure to support the growing number of tourists in the region.
Navraj Kadaria, the project’s site in charge, reported that the extension of the 33 KVA transmission line from Kobang substation to Charang is in its final stages. Despite challenges in installing iron poles and pulling wires due to extreme cold, the work is progressing steadily.
Source: Kantipur
