NEA instructs to complete construction of Kaligandaki corridor transmission line within mid-August

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 24: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA0 has directed the project management and constructors to complete the construction of the Kaligandaki Corridor 220 kV transmission line immediately.

The construction of the project was set to be completed mid-July 2023. However, the construction of the project was affected due to the delay in the tree felling permit process, the obstruction of the locals and the poor performance of the Indian construction company L&T.

After the delay in the construction of the transmission line, Managing Director of the NEA Kul Man Ghising monitored the construction site on Saturday and discussed with the project management and officials of the contractor company about the problems encountered in the construction and their solutions.

From the discussion, a new schedule has been decided to complete the construction of the transmission line within mid-August, this year, according to the NEA.

In the discussion, Ghising directed that the Kaligandaki corridor transmission line is very important and sensitive for the supply of electricity generated from the hydropower projects and that it should be completed by mid-August at any cost.

He said that after the construction of this line, it would be easier to supply electricity to hydropower projects built in Myagdi, Parbat, Kaski and Lamjung districts.

The construction of 127 km double circuit transmission line project starting from Dana substation of Annapurna Rural Municipality-3 in Myagdi and reached Sunwal Municipality-13 Bhumhi in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West) passing through Parbat, Baglung, Syangja, Palpa, Rupandehi is being divided into two sections.

Under the first section, the construction of a 39 km transmission line from Dana to Kushma Municipality-2, Khurkot in Parbat has been completed and has been brought into operation.

In the first section, the construction of 220/132 kV substations in Khurkot and 220/132/33 kV substations in Dana have been completed.

Under the second section, the construction of an 88 km transmission line from Kushma to New Butwal substation is in its final stage, said the NEA.

Out of 235 towers in this section, construction of 234 towers has been completed. A tower is under construction in Devadaha area of Rupandehi.

The wire in 7 kilometers stretch is yet to be extended in Parbat, Palpa and Rupandehi.

Under the project, construction of towers for 220 KV four-circuit (multi-circuit) line from Sunwal Municipality-13, Badera of Nawalparasi to New Butwal substation have been completed and about 8 km of double-circuit wire has been extended.

The construction of the Kaligandaki corridor transmission line had been started with the investment of the government and NEA and concessional loans from the Asian Development Bank for the supply of electricity to the hydropower projects to be built on the tributaries of Kaligandaki. About 1,200 megawatts of electricity can be transmitted through the transmission line, said the NEA.

New Butwal-Bardaghat transmission line is to be completed within December

The 220 kV transmission line from the new Butwal substation located at Sunwal Municipality-13, Bhumhi in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West) to Bardaghat is being worked on with the goal of completing by December this year.

The construction of the project was affected due to the delay in the decision-making process of forest area land use and tree felling approval. Now the project has got permission for tree cutting.

Around 50.31 hectares of forest land and 5,800 trees need to be removed from the transmission line tower and right of way. The project has to deposit Rs. 279.9 in forest development fund for land use of forest area and removal of trees.

Out of this, after the first installment of the project - Rs. 35.1 million - was deposited, the approval process for land use and tree felling went ahead.

Around 56 towers have to be constructed for the 21 km transmission line. Out of this, foundations of 21 towers have been laid and five towers have been installed.

Most of the transmission line equipment have been supplied to the project site, said the NEA.

MD Ghising instructed the project management and the construction company to increase the manpower and complete the construction within December this year as the problem of land use and tree felling in the forest area has been resolved.