KATHMANDU, Sept 15: Electricity from the national transmission grid has now reached Susta Rural Municipality-5 in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West) across the Narayani River to provide power to the isolated area. This is a significant development in the electrification of this remote region, which shares the border with India on one side and is surrounded by the Narayani River on other three sides.
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has constructed an 11 KV transmission line spanning approximately five kilometers from Sakardinayi, a part of Susta Rural Municipality-5. The line delivers electricity from the national grid to Susta settlement, which lies across the river. A suspension bridge, built over the Narayani River, played a crucial role in making this connection possible. The 1,571-meter-long bridge, designed to comply with load management and electrical safety standards, allowed for the safe installation of the 11 KV line. The line extends from one side of the river to the other, ensuring a stable and reliable electricity supply to the community.
Locals of Susta using boats to cross Narayani River since ages...
With the completion of this project, Susta is now connected to the national grid for the first time. The suspension bridge across the Narayani River was a key factor in enabling the extension of the power line, which was previously unattainable due to the inability to install poles in the river.
Before this, electricity in Susta was provided by a 100-kilowatt solar power system installed in collaboration with the Rural Municipality, the Lumbini Province Government, and the Alternative Energy Promotion Center. However, the solar system faced issues with regular maintenance, leading to unreliable power supply in the community. The lack of consistent electricity affected the daily life of approximately 350 households in Susta.
To address this issue, the NEA installed two distribution transformers with a capacity of 100 KVA each, ensuring a stable power supply. The connection and testing of the power lines and transformers have been successfully completed, and electricity from the national grid will now be supplied directly to the homes in Susta.
Executive Director of the NEA, Kulman Ghising, said that this project represents a significant step in the country's electrification campaign, which aims to supply electricity to every part of Nepal. He said that while solar power had been previously available in Susta, it was neither reliable nor of high quality. The local community had long requested a more dependable power source, and the connection to the national grid fulfills this need. Ghising also highlighted the strategic importance of connecting Susta to the national grid, given its location near the Indian border. From a national security perspective, electrifying this area carries additional significance.
The electrification project in Susta began in the fiscal year 2022/23, with an estimated budget of Rs 13.3 million allocated for the construction of the necessary infrastructure. The project faced delays due to the challenges posed by the Narayani River, as it was not feasible to install transmission poles in the riverbed. As a result, the NEA had to wait for the completion of the suspension bridge before moving forward with the installation of the transmission line.
