After nearly 12 years of obstruction, the Lamjung section of the Marsyangdi Corridor 220 kV national transmission line under construction has been removed.

Due to the obstruction of the locals, the obstruction of about 10 kilometers from Marsyangdi Rural Municipality-3 Khudi to Besisahar Municipality Municipality-1 Udipur Substation in Lamjung has been removed.

Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Khanal informed that a 12-point agreement was reached between the locals affected by the transmission line and the project on Friday at the District Administration Office to remove the obstruction of the project and proceed with the construction work. According to him, an agreement has been reached between the Rights Forum (FPIC) Lamjung on behalf of the agitating parties and the Nepal Electricity Authority's Marsyangdi Corridor 220 kV Transmission Line Project under the supervision of the administration.

The leadership of Khemjang Gurung on behalf of the indigenous and nationalist communities, including the affected local residents, had obstructed the construction work of the project by demanding Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). Despite the demand for the implementation of the FPIC, the project side has completed most of the construction work and there are legal and practical complications at the current stage, but both sides have agreed to adopt a process to ensure the rights of indigenous peoples in future projects.

The agreement was signed by Project Chief Narayan Regmi and Rights Forum Chairman Khemjang Gurung. Forum Chairman Gurung had started the movement since 2072 BS with the demand for the rights of indigenous peoples to be fulfilled. He said that the legal complications would be ensured in the coming days and that both sides had reached an agreement in practice.

Project Chief Regmi said that work had not progressed in about 10 kilometers due to obstacles from locals. The foundation of the tower could not be built. ‘Our work will now move forward after the agreement of both parties. The locals who have not received compensation will receive compensation,’ he said. According to him, 21 percent of the area affected by the project has not received compensation. He said that the problem that has been going on for about a decade has been resolved.

According to him, the construction of the transmission line from Aanbukhairani in Tanahun to Bharatpur has been completed and the substation built in Bharatpur is only left to be commissioned. The obstruction in Palungtar in Gorkha has also been removed and the construction work has reached the final stage. It is about 67 kilometers from Udipur to the new Bharatpur substation. Substations have been constructed and commissioned in Udipur and Khudi Tarikuna in Lamjung. Similarly, a 46-kilometer transmission line from Khudi in Lamjung to Ghelanchok in Manang is under construction. The project includes a 113-kilometer double circuit 220 kV transmission line from Dharapani in Manang to Bharatpur in Chitwan. After the project is completed, it has the capacity to transmit about 1,600 megawatts of electricity generated from the Marsyangdi corridor to the national grid.

According to the agreement, it is mentioned that 10 percent compensation will be provided for the land under the tower as per the prevailing EIA and legal provisions. Similarly, it is mentioned that compensation and indemnity will be provided for the land under the transmission line. Chief District Officer Khanal informed that it has been agreed that in the case of land that is withheld due to mortgages by locals in banks and financial institutions, more than 20 percent of the amount will be provided to the landowners within a specified time limit. According to him, the discussions have been successful after repeated efforts by the administration and an agreement has been reached that there will be no more agitations.

Assistant Chief District Officer Thamman Singh Gautam said that both parties have agreed that if houses, sheds and public structures fall within the jurisdiction of the transmission line, they will be evaluated and compensation will be provided and the amount as per the rehabilitation action plan will be provided. According to him, an agreement has also been reached on the issue of providing land as an alternative for the relocation of human settlements to the communities directly affected by the project, if necessary.

The agreement states that the use of forest areas and tree felling will be done in a manner that minimizes environmental impact based on the decisions and recommendations of the local government and community forest user groups. The agreement states that trees will be planted in the affected areas instead of the felled trees and the proceeds will be deposited in the account of the concerned forest user committee.

The agreement also includes the issue of constructing the transmission line with minimal impact on human settlements, monasteries, cemeteries, schools, cultural and historical heritage, operating social responsibility programs with special priority to vulnerable children, pregnant women, senior citizens, people with disabilities and marginalized communities, and obtaining necessary support from the local community throughout the construction period.

The Marsyangdi Corridor 220 kV Transmission Line Project is an infrastructure project of national importance being constructed by the Nepal Electricity Authority with the concessional loan assistance of the government and the European Investment Bank. Its estimated cost is about 16 billion rupees.