The construction of electricity substations has begun in Chaile of Waragung Mukti Kshetra-3 and Charang of Loghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality-1. Under the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the Nawalpur Rural Electrification and Chaile-Charang (Mustang) 33 kV Transmission Line and Substation Construction Project has moved forward with the construction of two substations in the area.

The process of constructing a 33 kV transmission line and substations in Mustang has been initiated under the leadership of Lopsang Chomphel Bista, Chairperson of Loghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality. On Thursday, Chairperson Bista, along with representatives of the project and the construction company, visited Chaile and Charang to conduct on-site inspections and surveys of the proposed substation sites.

According to Project Chief Bimalraj Raut, a contract worth Rs 380 million has been signed with Devyans-Visan JV, a joint venture between the Indian construction company Devyans and the Nepali construction company Visan. He said that the Nepal Electricity Authority signed the contract last year with the objective of fully electrifying Mustang district.

Although the substation construction process began a year ago, Raut explained that it took nearly 11 months to complete all contractual procedures. As per the agreement, two 33 kV substations with a capacity of 3 MVA each will be constructed in Chaile and Charang within a period of 15 months.

The substations are being constructed approximately 103 kilometers away from the Kobang substation of Thasang Rural Municipality-2, where the NEA’s central transmission line substation is located. Project Chief Raut said that the construction cost is higher than usual as the substations must be built to withstand the harsh conditions of the high Himalayan region, as they are located at an altitude of over 3,800 meters.

He added that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared to ensure uninterrupted operation even during winter and to enable smooth functioning at high altitudes. He expressed confidence that once the substations are completed, electricity supply will be reliable and voltage-related problems will be resolved.

Chairperson Bista stated that electricity supply in the district has been problematic due to reliance on the single existing 33 kV substation in Thasang. He said the initiative to construct new substations was taken jointly by the rural municipality and concerned authorities as a long-term solution.

He further expressed confidence that the completion of the substations would ensure smooth electricity supply and contribute to the development of tourism, agriculture, and industries in the region.

Earlier, the extension of the transmission line from Kobang to Charang of Loghekar Damodarkunda-1 had been initiated under the same project. Nawaraj Kadariya, a representative of the construction company, informed that 95 percent of the physical progress of the transmission line - being implemented under a two-year contract - has been completed so far. He noted that work was delayed in some areas due to local issues.

Jalasarokar