Tanahun locals protest ‘low’ compensation in MCC project

BY AMAR RAJ NAHARKI,Tanahun, Sep. 26: Tanahun locals have protested against the MCC (Millennium Challenge Corporation) project, citing improper land valuation. The landowners whose land will be used for the 400 kV transmission line towers are at the forefront of the protest.

The affected residents said that the compensation determined for the land was neither fair nor adequate. On Monday, the landowners submitted a memorandum to the Home Minister through the Chief District Officer, demanding a fair valuation for the land where the towers would be installed. 

A meeting held on September 11 at the Tanahun District Administration Office had fixed the compensation for the land required for the transmission line towers. However, Govinda Panth, one of the affected residents, said that the valuation was arbitrary and decided without consultation. He said that the landowners had no choice but to protest against such a decision.

The landowners have already submitted several memorandums and petitions demanding a fair valuation, especially for highly productive land within the urban area. They claim that land in the Chhabdi Barahi tourism area, which is well connected with both paved and unpaved roads, was not sold at the time when it had a higher value. They said that the committee had set the land value lower than promised. 

The memorandum also highlighted that during the valuation of land near the dam of the Marsyangdi Hydropower Project in Eklephant of Aabukhaireni Rural Municipality-2 compensation had been set at Rs. 18.49 million per ropani, whereas the current valuation for even more valuable land has been set at a much lower rate.

Around 199 towers are set to be constructed in areas under Aabukhaireni Rural Municipality, Bandipur Rural Municipality, Byas Municipality, Rishing Rural Municipality and Ghiring Rural Municipality in Tanahun district. Some towers will be constructed on government or disputed land, so only the undisputed land was considered for valuation.

According to Chief District Officer Janardan Gautam, a site inspection and multiple discussions had been held before the valuation was finalised. He informed that the valuation was based on the rates set by the Land Revenue Office, the market price determined by the relevant Ward Office, the rates established by banks and financial institutions, as well as factors such as the distance from roads and proximity to forest areas. 

The MCC Nepal Compact, under which the transmission line will be constructed, aims to build a 315-kilometre transmission line from Lapsiphedi in Kathmandu to the Nepal-India border in Bardaghat Susta West, Nawalparasi. On July 31, MCA-Nepal (Millennium Challenge Account) awarded the contract for the construction of the 400 kV New Damauli substation. This substation will serve as a key point for transmitting electricity to Ratamate, Lekhnath and New Butwal substations. 

The New Damauli substation will have the capacity to transmit approximately 3,200 megawatts of electricity generated from various hydropower projects. The reliable power distribution from this substation at different voltage levels is expected to boost industrial and commercial activities in Nepal.