PHIDIM: Kabeli Corridor, one of national pride projects, is set to resume its construction after six months of obstruction by local over compensation issues in land acquisitions dispute in Ilam district.

At least 28 towers installation were obstructed by locals of Siddhithumka in Ilam district over inadequate compensation for land acquisition for the project.

The Kabeli Corridor was constructed with the objective of integrating electricity into national grid produced in three hilly districts of Mechi Zone.

A go ahead sign of the project was reached after a meeting between Nepal Electricity Authority, Kabeli Cooridor Project, Deumai Municipality and locals forged consensus to conduct survey to determine land, land owners, plants, housings to be affected by the project.

'A decision was made to determine compensation for land acquisition to affected ones and resumption of the project'.

Earlier, locals had obstructed the project demanding cent percent compensation for land on the right-of-way of the project and change of route among others. With this obstruction, as many as 11 towers were yet to be installed at Siddithumaka in the district.

Chief of Kabeli Corridor Project Dipendra Raj Drivedi said "At most efforts have been made to find solution to the problem after receiving directive from National Electricity Authority Chief Executive Office Kul Man Ghising."

Ghising, who made field visits fearing locally produced 100 mega watt electricity would be wasted in absence of transmission line connecting to national grid.

CEO Ghising said "Right demands would be addressed and urged the locals not to obstruct national pride project".

Similarly, Ghising made it clear that the cent percent compensation would not be provided to land 9 metres left and right of the right-of-way of transmission line as demanded by locals .

He further said as per the present legal procedure, cent percent compensation would be provided to land where towers would be installed and 10 per cent compensation for land on right-of-way of the transmission line.

However, contractors poor work procedure, obstruction by locals over compensation issue on right-of-way in transmission line, delay in obtaining permission to cut down trees and among others.

Deumai Municipality Mayor Surya Prasad Pokharel said "National Pride project should not be obstructed putting unnecessary demands. Local government is ready to act as facilitator for resumption of the project."

The first section of Damak-Godak section has been completed. The second section of Godak-Phidim is obstructed by locals. The third section of Phidim-Taplejung is in the final stage of completion.

Meanwhile, subways construction at Godak, Thapatar and Amarpur have completed. As many as 11 towers will be installed along Jorsalla-Thapatar section in Phidim Municipality in Panchthar district.

90.2 kilo metre Kabeli Corridor consisting of 263 towers is being constructed to integrate electricity generated from Kabeli, Hewa, Mai rivers among others in Panchthar and Taplejung districts into the national grid.

For finding a solution, NEA CEO Kul Man Ghising, Directore of Transmission Line Acting Chief Bajra Bhusan Chaudhary, Director Ranjan Chalise, Biratnagar Regional Office Chief Sachidananda Yadav along other had visited the site.

The project which was commenced some ten years ago was scheduled to compete in mid-July.