KATHMANDU: Construction of the long-delayed Hetauda-Dhalkebar-Duhabi 400kV transmission line has resumed after years of obstruction caused by local dissatisfaction, compensation disputes and land-related issues.
The project moved forward again following initiatives taken by Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha.
According to the Nepal Electricity Authority, continuous discussions and coordination led by Minister Shrestha among affected locals, elected representatives and stakeholders helped resolve compensation-related concerns, prompting landowners to accept compensation packages.
The authority said tower construction work has now resumed in the affected areas.
Construction of the transmission line began in 2012, but work in the Hatiya area of Hetauda had remained stalled for years after disputes over compensation and land acquisition halted tower construction.
Of the project’s total 288-kilometer length, the 154-kilometer Dhalkebar-Inaruwa eastern section came into operation three years ago. However, the 134-kilometer Hetauda-Dhalkebar section had faced repeated delays due to unresolved compensation issues.
The Nepal Electricity Authority stated that among the 14 towers planned in the Hetauda section, construction of three towers has already been completed, while erection work on two additional towers is currently underway.
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