Over NPR 30 Million Distributed as Compensation for Land Acquired for Dhandakharka-Rahughat Transmission Line in Myagdi

Myagdi. Over NPR 30 million in compensation has been distributed to the landowners whose property was used for the construction of towers for the 132 kV Dhandakharka-Rahughat transmission line currently under construction here by the Nepal Electricity Authority.

According to the valuation set by the subcommittee formed under the leadership of the District Administration Office, compensation amounting to NPR 32,964,567 has been distributed so far only to the owners of the land where the towers are being constructed.

Matrika Timilsina, Administrative Officer for the project, informed that NPR 22,929,728 has been distributed as compensation. He stated, "Additional compensation of NPR 10,034,839 has been distributed based on the procedures of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the project's loan investor, considering criteria such as the poor, female-headed households, Dalits/Janajatis, and the vulnerable."

Out of the 82 towers for the 25-kilometer transmission line, 40 are in forest areas and 42 are on private land. Administrative Officer Timilsina mentioned that 66 individuals have already received compensation, and seven others are in the process of collecting it. The subcommittee, formed under the leadership of the District Administration Office in the year 2079 BS, had determined the compensation rate for the landowners whose property hosts the project's towers at rates ranging from NPR 900,000 to NPR 1,350,000 per ropani.

Compensation Also for Landowners Under the Wires

The project has stated that the process of determining the rate for distributing compensation to landowners whose land falls within the right-of-way area under the transmission line wires is underway. Landowners whose private property falls within nine meters on either side of the center of the transmission line are entitled to compensation.

Preliminary details have been collected for 454 land parcels falling under the right-of-way area beneath the transmission line wires. Similarly, 22 houses and structures falling under the wires have been identified for the first phase of compensation distribution. The project has indicated that the identification of additional physical structures under the wires is continuing. The project had acquired 51 ropanis of land in Dhandakharka, Malika Rural Municipality-7, and 90 ropanis in Rahughat Ambang, Raghuganga Rural Municipality-3, for substation construction. Land worth NPR 45 million, covering 504 ropanis, was purchased from the forest area and handed over to the government.

Under the Corporate Social Responsibility initiative in the areas affected by the transmission line, training has been provided to 15 individuals in vehicle driving, 15 in house wiring, and two individuals each from 19 community forests in the affected areas in non-timber forest product collection.

As per the demand of the community forest user groups, the project has distributed necessary materials for forest fire control and administrative operations, and is preparing to distribute educational materials to 18 community schools and students in the affected areas. Construction materials have been distributed to temples, mothers' groups, and schools in Malika Rural Municipality-7, 6, Mangala Rural Municipality-1, 2, Beni Municipality-5, 9, and Raghuganga Rural Municipality-3, which are affected by the project. Informational hoardings have been erected in various locations.

Physical Progress at 78 Percent

The Dhandakharka-Rahughat transmission line project has achieved 78 percent physical progress to date. This project is operational to integrate electricity generated from hydropower projects in the Myagdi and Rahughat basins into the national grid.

A contract agreement was signed with Larsen & Toubro Limited on December 31, 2021, for the construction of the transmission line and substations at a cost of NPR 3.57 billion. After the first deadline expired on July 16 and the second on November 16, the deadline has been extended for the third time until May 16, 2026.

Project Chief Roshan Agarwal stated that the construction period was prolonged due to the delay in receiving tree felling orders in the forest area under the transmission line's jurisdiction, the weak geology of the Rahughat substation construction site, disaster risks, and disputes with the community at some tower construction sites. According to him, the contractor has intensified construction work with a target to complete it within the next five months.

Out of the 82 towers for the 132 kV double-circuit transmission line, 71 have been erected so far. The contractor has started work on all towers except two. Engineer Suraj Gurung from the project stated that the stringing work for ten and a half kilometers has also been completed. Equipment for the transmission line and substation has been imported.

Progress stands at 95 percent at the Dhandakharka substation, 70 percent for the transmission line, and 65 percent for the Rahughat substation. L&T's Project Manager Subhash Chandra Sharma committed to completing the work within the stipulated time by adding manpower and equipment. At the Dhandakharka substation, built on 51 ropanis of land, equipment of 133-33 kV, 30 MVA capacity, and AIS technology is being installed. At the GIS technology-based Rahughat substation, which will house 220-132-33 kV, 200 MVA capacity equipment, the installation of equipment and construction of the office building are in the final stages.

The total estimated cost of the project is NPR 4.88 billion, with NPR 1.05 billion financed by the Electricity Authority and NPR 3.82 billion as a loan from the Asian Development Bank. The ADB loan agreement, initially for 27 million dollars, was recently increased to 31 million dollars. The ADB has invested in the Rahughat-Dhandakharka transmission line through the Electricity Transmission Line Modernization Project.

Four hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 172.8 MW have commenced construction on the Myagdi River. These include the 35.5 MW Chimkhola-Rahughat-Mangle, 48 MW Upper Rahughat, 21.3 MW Thulokhola, and 23.5 MW Upper Thulokhola hydropower projects, which have started generating power.

The 40 MW Rahughat Hydropower Project is in its final stages of construction. The Chimkhola-Rahughat-Mangle project by Tudi Power and the Thulokhola Hydropower Project by United Energy have supplied electricity to the 220 kV Kaligandaki transmission line by constructing temporary towers.