Urja Khabar
Kathmandu: The government has approved the use of 718.58 hectares of forest land in Tanahun district for hydropower, electricity transmission lines, cable cars, resorts and other infrastructure projects.
According to the Division Forest Office (DFO), the forest land has been allocated to various projects that are operational or under construction, with several developers required to provide compensatory land, plant trees or pay annual lease fees and royalties in accordance with prevailing regulations.
DFO Chief Manoj Ranabhat said the approvals would help ease implementation of major infrastructure projects, including the Tanahun Hydropower Project and associated high-voltage transmission lines. Tree marking and felling activities are underway in several project areas.
The Tanahun Hydropower Project has received permission to use 417.34 hectares of forest land, the largest allocation among the projects in the district. Meanwhile, MCA-Nepal has been authorized to use 142.66 hectares for a 400 kV transmission line, while 92.73 hectares have been approved for the 220 kV transmission line associated with the hydropower project.
The Madhya Marsyangdi–Dumre–Damauli 132 kV transmission line, under the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), has been allocated 14.85 hectares of forest land. The project has been paying annual revenue, according to the DFO.
Similarly, 17.75 hectares have been approved for the Udipur–New Bharatpur 220 kV transmission line under the Marsyangdi Corridor. Tree cutting has been completed, and the area has been handed over to the local group.
The National Transmission Grid Company Limited has received approval to use 0.8 hectares for the Kerabari–New Syangdi 132 kV transmission line under the Daraudi Corridor. An agreement has been signed with the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, and trees are being marked for removal.
Setikhola Hydropower Limited has been permitted to use 4.20 hectares for the Setikhola Hydropower Project. The company has provided land compensation and is carrying out afforestation activities. An additional 2.77 hectares are being processed for the project's associated 132 kV transmission line, with tree cutting process underway.
Meanwhile, Maulakalika Hydropower Company has proposed using 13.68 hectares of forest land for the Kaligandaki Hydropower Project.
Ranabhat said compensation requirements differ by project, depending on the applicable arrangements. Some developers have provided replacement land and have begun tree plantation, while others are paying annual fees and related charges.
The approvals reflect the scale of hydropower development and electricity transmission expansion in Tanahun, where infrastructure projects require access to forest areas. Developers must comply with the prescribed compensation and environmental requirements as they proceed with construction.
(RSS)
