KATHMANDU: The construction of the Kohalpur-Surkhet 132 kV transmission line, which was supposed to be completed by July 7, 2021, is still pending.
Despite an agreement being signed with Indian company RS Infraproject in 2019 for a project costing Rs 700 million, the transmission line has not yet reached Surkhet.
The project faced delays due to land acquisition issues and tree felling in the Banke and Bardiya National Park areas.
The situation was resolved, but the work came to a standstill when locals of Gavar, Baniyabhar, and Baijanath Rural Municipality-1 in Banke obstructed the construction for over 42 months.
In response to the obstruction, locals filed a writ petition in High Court in Nepalgunj, but the court dismissed the petition, ruling that the construction should proceed with the necessary compensation to the affected citizens. As a result, nine towers—six in Gavar and three in Baniyabhar—remain incomplete.
Project Chief Rabi Chaudhary said while compensation for landowners in Gavar has been settled, issues persist in Baniyabhar, where compensation has been agreed upon but not yet fully executed.
Banke Chief District Officer Khagendra Rijal confirmed that the issue is near resolution, with the administration ready to resolve any further obstacles.
The price of the land where the towers are being constructed has been fixed between Rs 2.5 million to Rs 3.2 million, and the transmission line spans 52 kilometers, with 161 towers planned between Kohalpur and Surkhet.
As of now, construction is complete for a 32-km stretch in the Surkhet section, while work continues in other areas, including Harre-Chinchu-Subbakuna and Kohalpur-Chisapani.
The construction has faced challenges due to the fourteen-km stretch within the Banke and Bardiya National Parks.
After receiving permission to fell trees, the project is progressing with tree cutting and tower construction. The target is to complete the tree felling work within the next two months.
According to Project Chief Chaudhary, 80 percent of the physical progress of the project has been completed, and the aim is to begin electricity transmission to the Birendranagar substation by May 2025.
The project will resolve ongoing power irregularities and voltage problems in Surkhet and Karnali districts, which are currently being powered by outdated 33 kV transmission lines.
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