Urja Khabar
Kathmandu: The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Nepal has progressed on installation of transmission line along Ratmata-New Damauli stretch with expediting distribution of compensation and damages to affected landowners.
According to the MCA-Nepal, a total compensation worth Rs 103.38 million out of total earmarked amount of Rs 170.68 million has been settled in this regard. Tanahun Liaison Officer for MCA-Nepal, Humnath Dhakal informed that 172 households have been provided with the compensation as of now.
MCA-Nepal aims to complete the acquisition of the remaining land and the distribution of compensation and damages within the current fiscal year. Alongside this, the process for determining and distributing compensation for the land falling beneath the transmission line—specifically the Right of Way (RoW)—will also be advanced.
Provisions are in place to provide compensation to affected landowners based on the impact on the land situated beneath the transmission lines following their construction. Dhakal stated that the goal is to complete the necessary procedures and both determine and distribute the compensation within the stipulated period.
Under 'Lot 2' of the transmission line project route, the 40.02-kilometer section stretching from Ratmata to New Damauli will pass through 18 wards across five local levels in Tanahun. According to Dhakal, 199 transmission line towers will be erected in this section.
Of the towers to be built in the Tanahun section, 105 will be located on private land and 71 on public land. Work on 23 towers is currently on hold due to technical reasons. Dhakal stated that the acquisition process, in accordance with the Land Acquisition Act (2034 BS), has been initiated to secure the necessary land for these towers.
The project will affect 241 households in Tanahun. Tower construction will impact 284 private land plots, and a total of 126.86 ropanis of private land will have to be acquired for the project.
The transmission line project under the MCA is considered crucial for connecting generated electricity to the national grid by ensuring coordination between power generation projects and transmission infrastructure. Construction is expected to gain momentum in the Tanahun section as work progresses on land acquisition, compensation distribution, and the securing of land required for towers that had previously been stalled.
Angelique Skipper JV, India has been awarded with the contract for construction. The total length of the transmission line being constructed under MCA-Nepal is 72.45 kilometers.
