Myagdi: More than Rs 32.9 million in compensation has been distributed to landowners for tower construction under the 132 kV Dandakhet–Rahughat transmission line project being developed by the Nepal Electricity Authority in Myagdi.
The payments were made based on rates determined by a subcommittee led by the District Administration Office, with compensation so far limited to land directly used for tower installation.
According to project administrative officer Matrika Timilsina, Rs 22.9 million has been paid as base compensation, while an additional Rs 10 million-plus has been distributed following the guidelines of the Asian Development Bank, targeting vulnerable groups such as low-income households, women-led families, Dalits, indigenous communities, and persons with disabilities.
The 25-kilometre transmission line includes 82 towers, of which 40 lie within forest areas and 42 on private land. So far, 66 landowners have received compensation, while seven more are in the process. Compensation rates, set in 2022, range between Rs 900,000 and Rs 1.35 million per ropani.
The project is also preparing to compensate landowners whose property falls under the right-of-way beneath transmission lines. Land within nine meters on either side of the line’s centre will qualify. Preliminary data shows 454 land parcels and 22 structures fall within this zone, with further identification ongoing.
Land acquisition for substations has already been completed, including 51 ropanis in Malika Rural Municipality–7 (Bim, Dandakhet) and 90 ropanis in Raghuganga Rural Municipality–3 (Rahughat Ambang). Additionally, 504 ropanis of land were purchased and handed over to the government for forest use compensation at a cost of Rs 45 million.
As part of its corporate social responsibility efforts, the project has provided vocational training, such as driving and house wiring, to residents and supported community forests with wildfire control materials. Educational materials are also being prepared for distribution to 18 community schools in affected areas, alongside support for local temples, women’s groups, and other institutions.
The project has achieved 78 percent physical progress so far. It aims to integrate electricity generated from hydropower projects in the Myagdi and Rahughat basins into the national grid. A contract worth Rs 3.57 billion was signed with Larsen & Toubro Limited on December 31, 2021, for the construction of the transmission line and substations.
Despite missing two previous deadlines, the project timeline has now been extended to May 16, 2026. Delays have been attributed to pending tree-cutting approvals in forest areas, challenging terrain at the Rahughat substation site, disaster risks, and local disputes at some tower locations. Project Chief Roshan Agrawal said construction has now accelerated with a target to complete within the next five months.
Out of 82 towers, 71 have already been erected, with work underway on all but two. Stringing of transmission lines has been completed over 10.5 kilometres. Equipment for both the transmission line and substations has already been imported.
Progress at the Dandakhet substation stands at 95 percent, while the transmission line is 70 percent complete, and the Rahughat substation has reached 65 percent completion. The total project cost is estimated at Rs 4.88 billion, with Rs 1.05 billion financed by NEA and Rs 3.82 billion through ADB loans, recently increased from $27 million to $31 million.
The transmission line is expected to support several hydropower projects in the Myagdi River basin, including the 40 MW Rahughat Hydropower Project, which is nearing completion, along with other projects already generating electricity and supplying it to the grid through temporary connections.
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