Transmission line project hits snag in final stretch
SINDHULI, MAR 27
The Khimti-Dhalkebar transmission line project has encountered a setback as it enters the final stretch with locals preventing work from being done to press their demand for a larger land compensation. The construction of the 220 kV transmission line started a decade ago, and 180 of the planned 188 towers have been erected.
The project hit a snag with 3.5 km to go where the remaining eight electricity pylons are to be built. Locals have rejected the compensation payment offered to them and have vowed not to allow the construction of the World Bank-funded project until their demands are met.
Government officials have said that the compensation payment demanded by the people is too high. On March 24 last year, joint secretary at the Finance Ministry Madhu Marasini had expressed his frustration at the hefty sum demanded by Sindhuli locals for 3.6 hectares of land by posting a tweet.
“Extremely disheartened. Rs100 million has been sought from the World Bank as compensation for 3.6 hectares of land in Sindhuli for transmission line. How can I ask for assistance,” Marasini wrote.
Since then, various World Bank teams have visited the project site, but there has been no breakthrough. Locals said that the visiting teams had assured them of including their position in their reports and reaching a decision accordingly.
A local Krishna Thapa said that they would deal with any situation that arises if their demand was not fulfilled. Another local Utpal Khadka criticised the World Bank for delaying publishing its report. Locals said that a World Bank team had assured them that their demands would be fulfilled after the report was prepared. The team had pledged to issue the report within three months.
Meanwhile, Sindhuli CDO Bishnu Pokharel said lack of coordination at the local level had delayed the installation work. Surendraswar Moktan, chairman of the struggle committee, said they would not back down and continue their protest until their demand was fulfilled.
The locals have opposed the aboveground power line saying it would affect the schools, historical and religious monuments and urban settlements in the area. They want the cables to be laid underground or over an alternate route bypassing populated places.
They have presented a number of demands including relocation of the residents, payment of benefits to locals by the hydropower projects that will be using the power line and freedom from load-shedding if the transmission line is to be laid along the present route. The government had acquired land 15 metres in width along the route of the planned power line by paying compensation to the landowners.
According to the District Administration Office, 80 percent of the compensation payment has been released to the project affected people. The office said payment remained to be made to only 29 families.
Meanwhile, political parties said the government should address the appropriate demands of the people. They also urged the government to complete the project soon.
The people have been conducting protest for the last two years. Last year, the government had ended load-shedding in the district as demanded by locals. However, the power cuts were resumed after the people obstructed the transmission line project.
Source:The Kathmandu Post
