The Nepal Electricity Authority has directed the project management and construction professionals to immediately complete the construction of the Kaligandaki Corridor 220 kV transmission line.

The construction of the project was set to be completed last June. However, the construction of the project was affected due to the delay in the tree felling permit process, the obstruction of the locals and the poor performance of the Indian construction company L&T.

After the delay in the construction, the managing director of the authority, Kulman Ghising, monitored the construction site on Saturday and discussed with the project management and construction professionals about the problems encountered in the construction and the solutions. From the discussion, a new schedule has been decided to complete the construction of the transmission line within this July.

In the discussion, Managing Director Ghisingh directed that the corridor transmission line of Kaligandaki is very important and sensitive for the electricity produced by hydropower projects and that it should be completed by July in any case.

He mentioned that after the construction of this line, it will be easier to supply electricity to hydropower projects built in Myagdi, Parbat, Kaski and Lamjung districts.

The 127 km double circuit transmission line project starting from Annapurna rural municipality-3 Dana substation in Myagdi and passing through Parbat, Baglung, Syangja, Palpa, Rupandehi to Sunwal municipality-13 Bhumhi in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West) is being divided into two sections.

Under the first section, the construction of 39 km transmission line from Dana to Kushma Municipality-2 Khurkot in Parbat has been completed and has been put into operation. In the first section, the construction of 220 ÷ 132 KV substations in Khurkot and 220 ÷ 132 ÷ 33 KV substations in Dana have been completed.

Under the second section, the construction of 88 km transmission line from Kushma to New Butwal substation is in final stage. Out of 235 towers in this section, 234 have been completed. A tower is under construction in Devdaha area of Rupandehi.

Almost 7 kilometers of wire are yet to be laid in Parbat, Palpa and Rupandehi. Under the project, towers for 220 KV four-circuit (multi-circuit) line have been completed from Sunwal municipality-13 Badera of Nawalparasi to New Butwal substation and about 8 km of double circuit wire has been laid.

The construction of the Kaligandaki Corridor transmission line has been started with the investment of the Nepal Government and authorities and concessional loans from the Asian Development Bank for the electricity flow of the hydropower projects to be built in the tributaries of Kaligandaki Rayas. About 1,200 megawatts of electricity can be transmitted through the transmission line.

New Butwal-Bardaghat transmission line within December

The 220 kV transmission line from the new Butwal substation located at Sunwal Municipality-13 Bhumhi in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West) to Bardaghat is being worked on with the goal of completing it by next December.

The construction of the project was affected due to the delay in the decision-making process of forest area land use and tree felling approval. Now the project has got permission for tree felling.

50.31 hectares of forest land and 5 thousand 800 trees need to be removed for transmission line tower and (right of way). The project has to deposit Rs. 27 crore 99 lakh 49 thousand rupees in forest development fund for land use of forest area and removal of existing trees. Out of this, after the first installment of the project was funded at Rs 35.1 million, the approval process for land use and tree felling went ahead.

56 towers have to be constructed for the 21 km transmission line. Out of this, 21 foundations have been laid. 5 towers have been erected. Most of the transmission line equipment has been supplied to the project site.

Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority Kulman Ghising instructed the project management and construction professionals to increase the manpower and complete the construction within the next month as the problem of land use and tree felling in the forest area has been solved.

He instructed to start pulling the double circuit wire to be laid by the project from 220 KV four circuit (multi circuit) line from Sunwal Municipality-13 Badera to New Butwal Substation in Nawalparasi. Under the project, the construction of 220-132 KV new Butwal substation in Bhumhi has been completed.