KATHMANDU: An agreement has been reached to advance the construction of the transmission line for the 102-megawatt Middle Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project in Sindhupalchowk. The agreement was finalized during a discussion among key stakeholders, including Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Minister Dipak Khadka, and other local and federal representatives. The construction of the approximately four-kilometer transmission line had been stalled for 14 months due to local obstruction affecting two kilometers of the route.
As a part of the project's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, the agreement includes financial aid to the Bahundanda Municipal Hospital to remedy the delay. In addition, the project would encourage the development of the affected communities and offer compensation for land and buildings damaged by the transmission line. Minister Karki stressed that all parties must carefully carry out the agreement and finish the remaining construction within a month.
Minister of State for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Purn Bahadur Tamang confirmed that construction would resume immediately following the agreement, with regular monitoring by relevant agencies. NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising highlighted the importance of advancing the project to ensure local ownership and facilitate immediate electricity production. He also mentioned that the construction of a 220/132 kV substation for the project's power flow is complete.
The Middle Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project's electricity will initially be used to charge the Bhotekoshi Substation. While repairs were made to address water leakage in the project's tunnel, the remaining work is on track for mid-October completion. A temporary arrangement has been made to step down the power from 200 kV to 132 kV for integration into the national grid via the Lamosanghu Substation, with additional support from Shiva Shree Hydropower's 132 kV transmission line project.
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