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Tree marking has begun in forest areas required for the construction of the transmission line under the Tanahun Hydropower Project. According to Project Chief Shyamji Bhandari, trees located within the right-of-way of the 220 kV Damauli–Bharatpur transmission line under Package 3, particularly in the national forest areas of Chitwan district, are being identified and marked.

An agreement has already been reached with the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation to use forest land within the transmission line corridor and to clear vegetation where towers will be constructed. Accordingly, usage rights have been obtained for approximately 92.7 hectares of forest land across Tanahun and Chitwan districts, along with permission to remove 9,127 trees.

Under this package, India’s KEC International Limited is constructing the 33-kilometer-long transmission line. Out of a total of 94 towers, foundation work has been completed for 78 towers, and installation has been completed for 69 towers. Overall progress of this package has reached around 76 percent.

Work on the other two packages of the project is also progressing rapidly. Under Package 1, the dam construction has been awarded to Songda Kalika JV, where overall progress has reached 54 percent so far. Excavation of the hill required for the main dam, construction of access roads, and the building of a temporary dam and diversion tunnel to reroute the Seti River have already been completed. The Seti River was diverted on November 6, 2023 (Kartik 20, 2080 BS), and the temporary dam construction was completed by May–June 2024 (Jestha 2081 BS).

Similarly, under Package 2, the powerhouse construction and equipment installation are being carried out by the Chinese company Sinohydro Corporation. Excavation of underground structures has been completed, and most of the civil construction work is finished. Major concreting works for the powerhouse, cable tunnel, surge tank, and tailrace structures have already been completed. Overall progress of this package has reached 73 percent.

Currently, the civil construction of the powerhouse has reached its final stage, while electromechanical installation work is ongoing. In addition, roofing and drainage works are also in progress.

Urjasanchar