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Legal approval has been obtained for tree felling in all community forests located in Tanahun district for the construction of the 220 kV Damauli–Bharatpur transmission line, which is being built under the 140 MW Tanahun Hydropower Project.

According to Project Chief Shyamji Bhandari, the Division Forest Office granted permission to enter and cut trees in an additional 12 community forests after the marking and tagging of trees within the transmission line corridor in Tanahun was completed. With this approval, all 17 community forests located within the transmission line area in Tanahun have now received the necessary clearance for tree felling.

The transmission line corridor passes through five community forests in Devghat Rural Municipality and six each in Bandipur Rural Municipality and Byas Municipality. Bhandari said tree-felling work is continuing on the Chitwan side.

Under Package-3 of the Damauli–Bharatpur 220 kV transmission line project, a total of 94 transmission towers are to be constructed along a stretch of about 35 kilometers. The contractor, KEC International Ltd. of India, has so far completed foundation works for 83 towers and erected 78 towers.

According to Bhandari, overall construction progress under Package-3 has reached 82 percent. The project expects that obtaining the required tree-felling approvals will help accelerate the remaining transmission line construction works.

Construction of the Tanahun Hydropower Project is being carried out under three packages. Under Package-1, construction of the dam and related structures is being undertaken by Song Da Kalika JV, with physical progress reaching 63 percent.

Similarly, under Package-2, construction of the powerhouse and installation of associated equipment are being carried out by Sinohydro Corporation of China, with progress reaching 79 percent.

The project’s overall construction progress has reached 78 percent, according to project officials.

NepalPurbadhar