By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, Feb. 24: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has taken steps to resolve obstacles against the construction of transmission line under the Solu Corridor at Maruwa of Katari Municipality-4 in Udayapur district.

Locals have blocked the construction of transmission line for the last two years demanding relocation of the transmission towers. Nine towers are to be erected in the area.

The management of NEA has taken initiatives to resolve the problem at the earliest as power generated by private sector would go to waste if the construction of transmission line in the area was delayed, said NEA in its press statement on Monday.

The management team of NEA, including Managing Director Kulman Ghising, Mayor of Katari Municipality Gyanendra Shrestha and ward chairmen and local representatives held discussions with the locals by inspecting the area where the transmission towers are to be built.

During the discussion, Ghising clarified the locals that it was impossible to relocate the transmission towers.

The 132 KVA double-circuit Solu Corridor transmission line is being constructed under the investment of the government of Nepal, NEA and a soft loan obtained from the Indian Exim Bank.

 "The route of the transmission line has been prepared to avoid damage to the fertile land and settlement of the lower area,” he said.

"A situation to pay compensation to the private sector will come up if the transmission line is not built to supply power in time. It is not possible to reroute the transmission at the last hour," he said.

Stating that they would try to provide maximum compensation to the land owners whose land is used for the transmission towers, he said that they could discuss other issues under corporate social responsibility.

He urged the locals to support the NEA for the construction of transmission line by withdrawing their obstruction.

Stating that many transmission lines were in construction phase across the country, he said that no transmission line could be built if the NEA was asked to reroute them.

Mayor Shrestha said that the municipality was committed to support the construction of the national pride transmission line by resolving the obstruction of the locals.

Project Chief Janardan Gautam said that the construction of the transmission line would be completed in time if the obstruction was resolved.

The length of the project is 90 kilometres. Out of the total of 303 transmission towers, 160 towers have already been erected and foundations of 248 towers have been laid so far, he said.

Twelve hydropower projects with a total installed capacity of 325 megawatts are being developed in the region. The NEA has already inked power purchase agreements with 12 hydropower projects.