Myagdi: Construction of the Dandakhet–Rahughat transmission line project has been delayed as the Division Forest Office, Myagdi has not issued a tree-felling order.
The Dandakhet–Rahughat transmission line project operated by the Nepal Electricity Authority has achieved 80 percent physical progress so far.
The contract was signed with a completion deadline of 16 November 2025. The Cabinet meeting on 18 February 2024, had approved the use of 25.62 hectares of community and national forest land for the right of way and tower foundation of the transmission line.
There are 3,936 trees at the project construction site.
Project chief Roshan Agrawal said that although 504 ropani of land had been purchased and the first installment provided for plantation, problems arose as the Division Forest Office delayed issuing the felling order.
“On behalf of the project, we had purchased land and handed it over to the Forest a year ago. The first installment of the plantation budget was also given five months ago,” he said. “Because of the delay in issuing the felling order, geographical challenges, and additional work required at the Rahughat substation, an extension of the project deadline has become necessary.”
According to Agrawal, the contractor has submitted a new timeline to complete the project by April 2026.
A contract worth Rs 3.57 billion was signed with Larsen & Toubro Limited on 31 December 2021, to construct a 132 kV, 25-kilometre transmission line connecting Ambang of Rahuganga Rural Municipality–3 to Dandakhet of Malika Rural Municipality–7, along with substations at both ends. The first project deadline expired on July 16.
Under the 132 kV double circuit transmission line, foundation work has been completed for 59 towers, of which 45 have already been erected, Agrawal informed. Except for four towers that require tree felling, construction work has started at all sites.
About 85 percent of the equipment for the transmission line and substations has already been imported.
At the Dandakhet substation built on 51 ropani of land, installation of 133/33 kV, 30 MVA AIS technology equipment has begun. Similarly, at the Rahughat substation, which will house 220/132/33 kV, 200 MVA GIS technology equipment, installation work and office building construction have started.
Ninety ropani of land at Ambang was acquired six years ago for the Rahughat substation. The Dandakhet substation is being built to connect electricity generated from hydropower projects under construction in the Rahughat, Myagdi River, and its tributaries to the national grid.
Chief of the Division Forest Office, Bishnu Adhikari, said delays occurred due to manpower shortages in conducting field studies, preparing reports, and making decisions on the tree-felling order.
“Until mid-July, the office was busy with regular tasks. Now, reports are in the final stage under three forest officers from five sub-divisions,” he said. “As soon as we receive the reports, we will process approval from the higher authority and issue the felling order.”
State Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Khambahadur Garbuja said the Division Forest Office has been directed to expedite issuance of the tree-felling order.
Similarly, Gandaki Province Assembly member Resham Bahadur Jugjali raised concerns in the provincial assembly regarding the Division Forest Office’s delay affecting hydropower, substation, and transmission line construction.
The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 4.87 billion, of which Rs 1.05 billion comes from the Electricity Authority and Rs 3.82 billion from an Asian Development Bank loan, according to Agrawal.
Tower foundation sites are located in Rahuganga Rural Municipality–3, Beni Municipality–9 and 10, Mangala Rural Municipality–1, and Malika Rural Municipality–6 and 7.
Administrative officer Matruka Timilsina said Rs 150 million has been distributed as compensation to private landowners where towers are located, and land worth Rs 45 million has been purchased and handed over to the government in return for forest land use.
Four hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 172.8 MW are under construction on the Myagdi River. The 35.5 MW Chimkhola–Rahughat–Mangale and the 21.3 MW Thulo Khola hydropower projects at Rahughat have already started trial production.
According to Agrawal, the 48.5 MW Upper Rahughat, 40 MW Rahughat, and 23.5 MW Upper Thulo Khola hydropower projects are in their final construction phase.
The Chimkhola–Rahughat–Mangale project developed by Tudi Power and the Thulo Khola project developed by Samyukta Urja have already built temporary towers and started supplying power through the 220 kV Kaligandaki transmission line, he added.
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