Power May Go Waste Due To Delay In Construction Of Transmission Line

Charikot : The construction work of about 40 km transmission line from Singati of Dolakha to Lamosangu of Sindhupalchowk has not picked up speed. Although it was said that the single circuit would be operational by mid-May 2021, the operation of the transmission line has been postponed due to the slow pace of work.

Due to this, electricity generated from the 25 MW Singati, 10 MW Sipring and 5 MW Ghattekhola hydropower projects has reached the point of being unused.Rajan Dhungel, chief of the Singati Lamosanghu Transmission Line Project, admitted that it was not possible to bring a circuit into operation by mid-May this year.

In October 2010, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) had signed a contract with Indian contractor Aravali Infrapower to complete the construction by 2012.However, the construction company was delaying work on various pretexts and the contract was about to be terminated and the operators of Khanikhola 1 Hydropower Project had decided to build it themselves.

Bhushan Thapa, who has been given the responsibility of Khanikhola, and project director of Aravali InfraPower, has not performed well and doubts have been raised about the speed of the transmission line.

If the transmission line is constructed immediately, there will be pressure to complete the work of 40 MW Khanikhola Hydropower Project which has been under construction for the last 12 years.

That is why Thapa has delayed the construction of the transmission line, said Nima Sherpa, coordinator of the local Hydropower Struggle Committee.He has alleged that the construction of the transmission line has been delayed as planned to facilitate the talks of extending the term of Khanikhola.

Chief of the project Dhungel said that the work of 132/33 substation at Singati and Lamosangu has reached the final stage.
Of the 126 towers of the 132 kV transmission line to be constructed, erection of two towers on the Sindhupalchowk side is pending, while five kilometers of single circuit and 15 kilometers of double circuit wires are yet to be installed on the transmission line.

NEA had signed a contract worth Rs. 175 million for the substation and Rs. 420 million for the transmission line with the Indian contractor to manage the hydropower generated in the northern parts of Dolakha.

However, the delay in the construction of the transmission line has ensured that the electricity generated in the district will be lost and the NEA will have to pay compensation to the projects.

The Rising Nepal