Three hydropower projects, which are in their final stages to generate power, would face problem in lack of attention of the Nepal Electricity Authority in the construction of Kabeli Corridor Transmission Line.
Construction task of the three projects, which would produce a total of 57 MW power, would be completed by April 2018.
Industrialists have complained that power produced from the projects would go wastage after NEA did not pay attention in course of construction of Transmission Line.
Construction of 90-KM Transmission Line from Padajungi of Jhapa to Amarpur of Panchthar is being carried out dividing it into three sections. Of them, construction task of the first section—Godak-Damak section has been completed while two sections are under construction. Construction of the Transmission Line, started from the fiscal year 2062/63 BS, has now been obstructed due to various reasons including compensation distribution.
Construction of 25 MW-Kabeli 'B-1' hydel project, 22MW-Lower Hewakhola hydel power and 10MW-Ewakhola hydropower project are in the phase of completion.
Chief of Kabeli 'B-1' hydel project, Ramesh Prasad Pokharel, complained that although the project is in the phase of completion of construction task, there is a situation where the power will go wastage after NEA failed to pay attention in the construction of 132-KV Kabeli Transmission Line.
Independent power producers said that the Indian construction company, which has got responsibility for construction of the Kabeli Corridor Transmission Line, has not put the construction task in priority.
The Kabeli 'B-1' project is constructed by the Arun Kabeli Hydroelectricity Project. Project chief Pokharel said that problem has been faced as the NEA has not paid attention to the construction of the Kabeli Corridor Transmission Line. Installation of the penstock pipe and machine is going on at the project but it is going to face problem for the lack of a transmission line even when it is nearing completion.
The 22-kilowatt capacity Lower Hewakhola Project is also about to complete. According to project chief Ganesh Subba, the project would be completed by April 7, 2018. Although preparations have been made to feed the power generated from this project to the national grid through the NEA sub-station located at local Thapatar, problems have been seen in the construction of the transmission line.
The private power producers have been complaining that the NEA of not showing concern towards addressing the problem but only indicating to the problem related to transmission line construction.
Shailendra Guragain, the President of Independent Power Producers' Association of Nepal (IPPAN), said that the projects that are nearing completion are in the problem as NEA has not paid attention to constructing the power transmission line for these projects. He said the NEA should find out as to why the construction companies could not carry out their work in time and the private power producers also to facilitate the construction of the transmission lines.
However, the NEA has said that the construction of the transmission lines is going ahead. Spokesperson of NEA, Prabal Adhikari said NEA Chief Executive Officer Kulman Ghising has already given the necessary instructions to the construction company to speed up the construction of the pending transmission lines. The NEA has complained that the local administration was not cooperating in this task.
The locals are not content on the distribution of compensation for their land that lies below the 'right of way' of the transmission line. Problems have occurred in the construction of 22 towers because of this.
In this connection, the NEA has urged the Chief District Officer of Panchthar district to use his good offices to resolve this problem overcompensation.
