Lawmakers draw attention over delay in construction of transmission lines

KATHMANDU, June 11: Lawmakers drew the attention of the government over the delay in the ongoing construction of national transmission lines and their substations across the country. 

As a result, challenges have surfaced in achieving the government's objective of providing electricity access to all the households in the country within two years, they pointed out. They also urged the government to focus on the construction, expansion and distribution of transmission lines and development of electrical infrastructures. 

They were attending a discussion on the topics related to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and the Ministry of Home under the Appropriation Bill, 2079 in the budget session of the House of Representatives on Friday. 

On the occasion, Nawaraj Raut complained about unreliable electricity supply despite 44.9 percent of houses in Karnali Province having electricity access. Due to low voltage, it has been difficult to charge electric appliances and operate small industries. The former minister who led the electrification campaign is from Karnali. But where is a reliable power supply?, he asked. He drew the government's attention toward  the delay in the construction of the 132 kV Kohalpur-Surkhet transmission line and demanded its early completion. 

Similarly, Gajendra Bahadur Mahat complained that contractors delayed the national transmission line in the province while Man Bahadur Bishwokarma demanded the government freely provide 150 units of electricity each month so as to replace LP gas with electric cooktop.