Lost in transmission

Published on April, 2014 in Perspectives/ THT

SUJATA AWALE
KATHMANDU: The country is reeling under power cuts and the government has committed to resolve this problem in three years. However if this promise is to see the light of day, the onus now falls on Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to ensure that transmission lines are set up as per schedule. As of now delays and problems plaguing the construction of transmission lines makes meeting this target almost impossible.

In fact the task to set up transmission lines within stipulated deadlines is already starting to look like a fairy tale as NEA has run into problems over the construction of transmission lines in a couple of places. 

Problems galore

NEA is having a tough time with issues of land acquisition, forest clearance and compensation for right-of-way and has been compelled to halt most of projects even though they were started a decade ago. The Khimti-Dhalkebar Corridor Project, which commenced in 2004, was supposed to be complete in 2010. However, this project has not been accomplished due to obstruction by locals at Sindhulimadi. The Thankot-Chapagaun-Bhaktapur Transmission Line Project, which was expected to start a decade ago, is yet to begin. Similarly, another NEA project to install a second circuit to the existing Hetauda-Matatirth Suichatar project line has been stopped due to agitation by locals. The problem of land acquisition is massive in sub-urban areas such as Sindhulimadi, Thankot and Chapagaun.

Politics and political will

“The NEA is having a tough time dealing with these issues and the authority alone will not be able to deal with it,” said Arjun Kumar Karki, Managing Director of NEA, adding that there is the need for state intervention. “Despite several attempts to resolve the problem, we could not come to a logical conclusion till date,” he added. 

According to him, few people backed by certain political parties have been the major hurdle in the process of project development. Stating that specific criteria for land acquisition, compensation of right-of-way and strict law enforcement is required, he said, “The existing policy and enforcement of laws seriously need some sort of amendment immediately.”

The growing disconnect

Though NEA has been working on transmission line development projects for the last few years, it has been often criticised for not completing projects on time. The progress of transmission development is halted time and again due to unclear and ambiguous policies, lack of a transmission master plan and networks, poor coordination among government authorities and no synchronisation between hydropower and transmission line projects.

The Nepal India Electricity Transmission and Trade Project — the first cross border transmission line of 400 KV double circuit — is currently under construction and targeted for completion in 2016. If this project is completed on time, Nepal will be able to exchange power with India in same frequency.

Not in sync

“The World Bank has funded USD 200 million in transmission line projects that constitute 740 km,” said Rabin Shrestha, Senior Energy Specialist at The World Bank. According to him, 220KV Berdaghat–Bharatpur–Hetauda (150 km), 400KV Hetauda–Dhalkebar (285 km), 232 KV Damak–Kabeli (90 km), 220 KV Khimti–Dhalkebar (75 km) and 400 KV Dhalkebar–Muzaffarpur (140 km) are some of the big transmission line projects funded by the bank, which are under construction. The Asian Development Bank and Norwegian government have also shown interest to develop transmission line projects.

Citing that lapses in the development and synchronisation of transmission lines is also one of the major reasons behind current power cuts, Shrestha said, “With the construction of the cross border project, Nepal will be able to import over 1,000 MW power to relieve the current power cuts of 12 hours.” Explaining that Nepal/India power has no synchronous system till date, he said, “Nepal generates power through hydropower while India generates power via steam turbine. Hence, it creates problem in synchronisation.” 

Stressing that there is lack of coordination between government authorities, Shrestha articulated, “The Ministry of Forest takes a minimum one year to settle the issue of forest clearance, which will further delay the project,” adding that NEA should coordinate with government authorities so that works can progress at pace. 

“The counseling for landowners is lacking. There is still no clear policy at what per cent should the government compensate them for right-of-way of transmission lines,” said Shrestha, adding that the government should provide consultation along with resettlement and rehabilitation programmes that could easily convince locals about the need for transmission lines.

Lacking a master plan

“Out of total 101 towers, we have accomplished around 95 towers for Khimti-Dhalkebar Corridor Project,” said Sanjay Kumar Yadav, project manager of Himal Hydro Company, adding that the installation of six towers has been delayed as there was objection from locals in the land acquisition. However, he informed that, The World Bank has given an ultimatum of three months to NEA to complete the project. Stating that there is no alternative route, he added, “Locals demand more compensation for right-of-way.” 

For a smooth power evacuation system, The World Bank is planning to support a transmission master plan that will study and develop probable transmission links and networks.



“There is no synchronisation with hydropower and transmission line projects,” said Khadga Bahadur Bisht, president of Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN). Marshyandi Corridor has many hydropower projects in its pipeline. But due to lack of transmission line, it seems that Upper Dorji I (25 MW), Upper Dorji (27 MW) and Marshyandi A (50 MW) will not be able to evacuate energy to the national grid. “NEA will have to compensate 95 per cent to Marshyandi A if it fails to construct the transmission line at the time of generation,” he informed. “If these transmission lines cannot be constructed on time, NEA will have to face big problems in connecting new hydropower projects to national grid in days to come,” he added.

Where does the buck stop?

Bisht blames the Department of Electricity Development (DoED) for providing licence without determining transmission lines to project sites. He also added that there is lack of coordination between DoED and NEA in planning. Dilli Bahadur Singh, director general of DoED, said, “It is not our responsibility to plan energy evacuation for private companies. There would be hundreds of projects application on our table and it would not be possible for us to research on all of them.” Citing that it is the applicant’s responsibility to plan the evacuation process and coordinating with NEA before applying for license, he said, “Independent producers themselves have to conduct studies and plan for evacuation. On the basis of that plan, we decide whether to provide license or not.”

“Lack of clarity in policy to construct transmission lines is another hurdle,” said Bisht, adding that the unclear policy causes problem in development of projects. “NEA has given permission to construct required transmission lines for the project but the question is whether private companies are able to construct big transmission lines or not,” he said, adding, “Is there any master plan for constructing transmission lines?” He opined that if there is no master plan, it will poise a big threat that there would be unmanaged transmission line tangled here and there. According to him, private companies should be given permission to construct transmission line up to 50 KV while NEA should take responsibility of constructing high capacity projects.