Residents of Baijnath Rural Municipality-4 Baniabhar of Banke have protested against the 132 kV national transmission line connecting Kohalpur-Surkhet (Karnali Province) by the Nepal Electricity Authority.

The locals protested by blocking the Ratna highway connecting Nepalgunj-Surkhet and demanding to use other routes as the construction of the transmission line over the settlement would make more than 100 locals homeless. They blocked the road near Baniabhar water tank from 11 am on Thursday. According to the project, three towers will be built in the

settlement if they demand the government to relocate the locals by paying compensation if they build a transmission line in the same area. A few days ago, work was started on the security perimeter of the police in the forest area near the settlement and some towers have also been built there. Now a tower is being constructed near the settlement. 

According to the technician of Kohalpur-Surkhet-Dailekh 132 KV transmission line project of the Electricity Authority, the construction of some towers has been completed by cutting 170 trees and cutting down 170 trees in the forest towards Surkhet side near the settlement. A tower has also been constructed in the central community forest area of ​​Banke National Park, which is close to the settlement on Banke side. Now only three towers within the settlement are left to be built.