Locals urge govt to develop Tamor Hydropower Project

PANCHTHAR, Nov 23: Locals of Panchthar and Terhathum have urged government to put the Tamor Hydropower Project -- a reservoir project - in priority and took needful initiatives for implementing it.



Ministers, former ministers, lawmakers and former lawmaker of the two districts have also formed a committee under former lawmaker Basant Nembang for lobbying with concerned government agencies to develop the 762-megawatt project.



The committee recently met Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and urged the latter to develop the project, stating that project could be a key for economic development in the Province No. 1.



The proposed project site is on the Tamor River between Syabarumba VDC of Panchathar and Okhrel VDC of Terhathum.



The committee has also argued that the project, according to a study commissioned by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is comparatively easier to develop. NEA holds the survey license of only 200 MW. But a recent NEA study has concluded that the project's capacity can be upgraded to 762 MW.



Nabin Neupane, an engineer with the NEA, said that the study has showed that the project is attractive in terms of geological situation, and technical and economic aspects.  

Talking to Republica, Nembang said that that the project is important for meeting energy demand of dry month and for rural electrification in Province No. 1. The Province No.1 does not have any mega project.



The NEA study has projected the project cost at Rs 120 billion. "The project can be developed by mobilizing both domestic and foreign investment," said Nembang. 



If the project is developed, hydropower projects like Lower Hewa and Kabeli A will be submerged in the reservoir. Similarly, only 126 families need to be resettled. 



Easy access to road, shorter distance to nearest substation to evacuate power and low environmental impacts are the attractive features of the project, according to Neupane.



The project site is connected to road network by Tamor Corridor Road and Panchathar-Terhathum road.

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