The construction of Solu corridor 132 kV double circuit transmission line project has been completed.
The construction of the project was completed on Saturday after the work of erecting towers and connecting wires ended removing obstruction in Maruwa, Katari Municipality-4 of Udayapur demanding diversion of the route of the transmission line.
The length of the transmission line from Mirchaiya in Siraha to Tinla in Solukhumbu via Udayapur and Okhaldhunga is 90 kilometres and the number of towers is 302.
Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Managing Director Kul Man Ghising said that the transmission line, which had fallen sick due to various problems, would be charged and brought into operation within a month.
“The construction of the transmission line was obstructed by the locals. The work was halted despite an interim order from the court. The construction has been completed thanks to the continuous efforts of the authority and the project staff,” Ghising said.
“After the transmission line is charged, on the one hand, electricity from private sector projects under construction in the area will be connected to the national grid, on the other hand, power supply in the area will be reliable and power leakage will be reduced.”
The construction of 132, 33 and 33, 11 KV substations at Tinla in Solukhumbu has been completed and charged.
Along with this, electricity is being supplied to the area by taking electricity from Lahan of Siraha and now the electricity generated from Solu River will be used for local consumption.
A Solu Corridor transmission line is being constructed to distribute the electricity generated from the Solukhumbu and surrounding hydropower projects in Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga and Udayapur and connect remaining power to the national grid.
Project Chief Janardan Gautam said that there were many problems and obstacles in the construction of the Solu Corridor transmission line project.
He mentioned that the project has been completed with the help of all.
The 23.5 MW Solu Khola Hydropower Project will be connected after the transmission line comes into operation. The NEA has singed power purchase agreement (PPA) of 325 MW with 12 hydropower projects in the area after the construction of this transmission line.
The project is being constructed with the investment of government and NEA and a concessional loan from the Exim Bank of India, was delayed for almost two years due to a dispute regarding the selection of contractors.
A contract agreement was signed with the Indian company Mohan Energy Corporation in April 2016 for the construction of the transmission line.
Source : TRN,
