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The government has proposed classifying transmission line and substation projects with a capacity of 220 kV or above as nationally transformative projects.

In the Development Project Management and Implementation Bill prepared by the government, provisions have been made to include transmission lines of 220 kV or higher and their associated substations in the list of national transformative projects.

The move is aimed at accelerating the construction of transmission lines, as delays in building them have led to situations where generated electricity goes unused and is wasted. The government plans to grant transformative project status to transmission lines above 220 kV in order to speed up their development. At present, electricity is being wasted due to the failure to complete transmission lines on time. Issues such as land disputes, delays in tree-cutting approvals, and local opposition have hindered timely construction.

According to the bill, such projects will receive special legal and administrative facilitation. During implementation, priority will be given to processes such as land acquisition, forest area usage, environmental approval, supply of construction materials, customs clearance, and foreign currency exchange.

The provision related to the “right of way” for electricity transmission line construction has also been clarified.

During transmission line expansion, government, public, Guthi, community, or private land may be used, while ownership of the land - except for the area occupied by towers or poles - will remain with the landowners. A compensation mechanism for affected landowners has also been included.

The government has stated that although electricity generation has been increasing, the lack of transmission infrastructure has created challenges in electricity flow and export, making it necessary to introduce special arrangements to expedite large transmission projects.

If the bill is passed, it is expected to provide legal facilitation for the implementation of 220 kV, 400 kV, and higher-capacity transmission line projects required for the expansion of the national transmission system and cross-border electricity trade.

Nepal Purbadhar