Kathmandu, 20 Oct 2024 : The Khimti–Lamosangu 132 kV transmission line, washed away by the floods in the Tamakoshi River due to the heavy rainfall on 12 and 13 Asoj, will be brought back into operation using an Emergency Restoration System (ERS) tower.
The floods in the Tamakoshi River swept away Tower No. 7 of the Khimti–Lamosangu transmission line located in Devitar, Manthali Municipality-13, Ramechhap. In addition to the collapse of the tower, the conductors of four other towers were also damaged. Since the tower’s collapse, the transmission of electricity through the line has been halted since 13 Asoj, severing the link between Khimti and the Kathmandu Valley. This line had the capacity to transmit around 200 MW of electricity.
The Khimti–Lamosangu transmission line is crucial for supplying electricity to the Kathmandu Valley. Power from this line is supplied to the valley via the Lamosangu–Bhaktapur transmission line. Additionally, electricity generated by hydropower projects in the Bhotekoshi River basin in Sindhupalchok is exported to India through the Lamosangu–Khimti–Dhalkebar line.
Kulman Ghising, the Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), stated, “The shutdown of the Khimti–Lamosangu transmission line has affected the reliability of the power system, and even the electricity export to India has been impacted. Therefore, we are working to restore the line as quickly as possible using the ERS structure.” He further mentioned that while the line will be temporarily restored using the ERS, a permanent tower will be constructed to replace the one washed away by the flood.
The NEA is utilizing its own ERS structure to bring the Khimti–Lamosangu 132 kV transmission line back into operation. The installation of the ERS tower has already been completed. However, when the installation began, local residents demanded compensation and disrupted the work. After a discussion on 2 Kartik with Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation State Minister Purna Bahadur Tamang, the Chief District Officer of Ramechhap, and other officials present, an agreement was reached with the locals, and the installation of the ERS tower began. However, when the stringing of wires was about to begin, locals from Dolakha disrupted the work again. A new agreement was reached with them on Sunday in the presence of local representatives, and the wire stringing will now proceed, which is expected to take around four days, according to Manoj Sah, the head of the Khimti Grid Branch of the NEA.
