KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 27
The ongoing construction of the Hetauda-Dhalkebar-Inaruwa 400 kV double circuit transmission line project has witnessed deceleration, primarily involving the erection of 792 towers in hilly, Chure, and Tarai areas. While foundations for 757 towers have been laid and 750 towers have been erected, 35 towers have faced delays due to local opposition, demanding changes to the route of the transmission line.
The installation of the wire has also encountered obstructions from locals, especially in the Dhalkebar-Inaruwa section. To expedite the work, five teams have been mobilised with a target to complete the project by next December.
The primary goal of the project is to bolster the electricity transmission system within Nepal and facilitate electricity trade with India.
This transmission line spans a length of 288 kilometres, starting from Thanabhayang in Hetauda to Inaruwa sub-station in Sunsari, passing through Dhalkebar in Dhanusha.
The project is divided into two sections: Hetauda-Dhalkebar (134 km) and Dhalkebar-Inaruwa (154 km). Currently, progress is being made with four kilometres of wire installed in the Hetauda-Dhalkebar section and 40 km in the Dhalkebar-Inaruwa section.
The transmission line traverses through 10 districts - Makwanpur, Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha, Saptari, Udaipur, and Sunsari - connecting and impacting a broad geographical area.
The Nepal Electricity Authority is under pressure to complete the transmission line to meet electricity demand in the eastern region, including the Morang-Sunsari industrial corridor, especially during the winter months. This project is essential for importing electricity from India during dry season as well as exporting surplus electricity generated during the rainy season.
Kulman Ghising, managing director of the authority, has emphasised the strategic importance of the transmission line and expressed concerns about potential obstacles. He stressed that the support of the entire state mechanism is vital for the successful completion of this project.
The delays in construction have been attributed to various factors, including local demands for route changes, Supreme Court interim orders, procedural complexities in forest area land use and for approval of felling trees, and performance issues with the contractor. Despite an initial pact to complete the construction within 30 months, the project has been ongoing for almost a decade.
A version of this article appears in the print on October 28, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
