Construction of 70-km 220 KV Bharatpur-Hetauda Transmission Line has not started even four years after the World Bank agreed to provide a project loan, for lack of clearance from the Ministry of Forests. [break]
The anti-graft body has given a deadline of 15 days for the two ministries to reach agreement. “The Ministry of Energy had written to the Ministry of Forests four years ago for clearance to cut the trees that need to be cut, but have yet to receive the clearance,” Energy Secretary Balananda Paudel said.
The World Bank has agreed to funding of US$ 19 million for the project and the government has been forced to pay a commitment charge as the work has not yet started. The World Bank has twice extended the period for utilisation of the fund and the latest extension is to expire in December. “We are already late and the best we can hope is to start the work on a war footing and seek another extension of around six months to complete the project,” Paudel added.
Similarly, the CIAA has asked the Home and Defense Ministries to provide security for completion of the 75-km Khimti-Dhalkebar Transmission Line. “We have completed all the work and need to put in just six more pillars, but a few locals have obstructed work in Sindhuli Bazar, saying they will not allow the high-tension transmission line to go through their vicinity,” Puadel disclosed.
He said the 220 KV Khimti-Dhalkebar line can be brought into use immediately if the six pillars are built, and Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is losing around 8-10 MW of power from the Khimti and Bhotekoshi projects in technical loss as it has to use longer transmission lines for lack of the Khimti-Dhalkebar line.
NEA to seek clarifications for leakage
The NEA board on Tuesday decided to seek clarifications from staff, including the respective department chiefs and general managers, for leakage of over 60 percent from the feeders. Some 20 feeders across the country have been leaking over 60 percent, with some in Saptari and Siraha districts having leakages of upto 85 percent.
NEA is already enforcing additional hours of load-shedding on feeders having leakage of over 40 percent, and this has been helpful in controlling leakage, according to Paudel. But since additional power cuts have not been enforced on all the leaking feeders, the board has decided to suspend staff who don´t enforce extra load-shedding on feeders having leakage of above 40 percent.
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