The U.S. government has prohibited the construction of any type of structure and the planting of trees within 23 meters to the right and 23 meters to the left of the centerline of the transmission line being built under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

The Ministry of Finance published a notice in the Nepal Gazette, banning any kind of construction or tree planting on approximately 1,381 hectares of land that fall on both sides of the transmission line. It is also stated that the Cabinet exercised the authority granted under Subsection (3) of Section 33 of the Electricity Act, 1992.

Subsection (3) states that if the Government of Nepal or a licensed person carries out any construction work related to the generation, transmission, or distribution of electricity, the Government of Nepal may prohibit others from using houses or land located at the construction site or within a specified surrounding distance for certain purposes. The same subsection also provides that the Government of Nepal or the licensed person must pay compensation, as prescribed, for any loss or damage suffered by the concerned individuals due to such prohibition.

“The notice states that, for the purpose of Sub-rule (1) of Rule 66 of the Electricity Regulations, 1993, construction of any type of structure and the planting of trees have been prohibited on approximately 1,381 hectares of land falling within 23 meters to the right and 23 meters to the left of the centerline of the 400 kV electricity transmission line to be constructed by the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal Development Committee (MCA-Nepal). The affected land lies in the districts of Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East), Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West), Palpa, Tanahun, Chitwan, Dhading, Sindhupalchok, Nuwakot, Makwanpur, and Kathmandu, as specified.”

The prohibition applies to land along the transmission line expansion sections including: New Butwal–New Damauli; Nepal–India border–New Butwal; New Damauli–Ratmate Substation; Ratmate–New Hetauda; Ratmate–Lapsiphedi; and Ratmate–New Damauli transmission line sections.

Under the MCC Nepal Compact’s electricity transmission project, contracts have already been signed for the construction of a total of 315 kilometers of electricity transmission lines.

Under the MCC Nepal Compact’s electricity transmission project, the Millennium Challenge Account–Nepal (MCA–Nepal) has signed a construction contract for a 117-kilometer section of the electricity transmission line. The Ashish–Bozler Joint Venture will construct the 117-km transmission line from the under-construction Lapsiphedi Substation in Kathmandu district, via the under-construction Ratmate Substation in Nuwakot district, to the under-construction New Hetauda Substation in Makwanpur district.

The contract, awarded by MCA–Nepal through an international competitive procurement process, is worth approximately USD 76.65 million. Under this agreement, works including the design, installation, testing, and commissioning of the 400 kV transmission line will be carried out.

MCA–Nepal has signed a construction contract for the Ratmate–New Damauli transmission line with the Angelique–Skipper Joint Venture, and a construction contract for the New Damauli–New Butwal transmission line with the Vaiba–Salasar Joint Venture, through an international competitive bidding process. Under these contracts, with a combined cost of USD 154.5 million, works including the design, installation, testing, and commissioning of 180 kilometers of 400 kV transmission lines will be carried out.

MCA–Nepal had also signed a contract worth USD 12.36 million with Transrail Lighting Limited for the construction of an 18-kilometer transmission line within Nepal under the Butwal–Gorakhpur cross-border transmission line project.

Kantipur