Kathmandu. In the third week of December, managing director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Hitendra Dev Shakya, had reached Surkhet and instructed to bring the 132 kV transmission line into charge at the earliest.

The transmission line came into operation from the midnight of February 1, which is around three weeks after Shakya inspected the site and directed not to delay in the work. After Shakya’s directive, the contractor company also expedited the construction of the project.

Shakya, who had reached Surkhet some week back, had reached Surkhet for the second time to start the operation of the transmission line. According to Shakya, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been successful in bringing the 132 KV transmission line on charge for the first time in Karnali Province and it has created a situation for consumers in Karnali Province and Surkhet to use quality electricity.

He said that with the operation of this project, big industries will start in Karnali and NEA is hopeful that they will spend the maximum amount in electricity industries. “Industry is the key to economy and energy is the key to industries and businesses,” he said, adding, “Therefore, NEA is hopeful that more doors will be opened for economic improvement in Karnali along with the supply of quality energy.” ’

With the operation of the Kohalpur-Surkhet-Dailekh 132 KV transmission line under the Kohalpur-Surkhet-Dailekh Transmission Line Project, the NEA has expected that the problem of overload, frequent power outages and low-voltage problems will improve in the entire Karnali Province due to the supply of electricity from the existing 33 KV transmission line. NEA has said that the NEA will also play a significant role in evacuating the electricity generated from this area to the national grid of Nepal Electricity Authority.

Stating that his attachment to the project and Karnali dates back to Karnali in 2067 BS, Shakya recalled that he had come to Karnali dozens of times during the project. Stating that he has old emotional connection with Karnali, he said he was elated to get the opportunity to bring the 132 KV transmission line into operation for the first time for the people of Karnali. “I have come to Dailekh 6-7 times in connection with this transmission line,” he said, adding, “We have a plan to reach Dailekh within a year.” ’

On the occasion, Shakya also directed the authorities concerned to make necessary preparations for the use of charging station near the automatic sub-station in Surkhet and near the tower next to the main highway and the land acquired by the NEA to facilitate the use of electric vehicles on the highway.

Shakya said that all the feeders of Surkhet will be inaugurated after the election after the supply of feeders from this substation.

Rabi Kumar Chaudhary, chief of the project, reminisced that NEA Managing Director Shakya had directed to complete the construction of the 52-kilometer Kolpur-Surkhet section soon. “We will take it to Dailekh within next year,” said Chaudhary. ’

According to Chaudhary, the NEA, the project staffers and all the locals have made the project a success by resolving issues like land acquisition, deforestation and disputes with local landowners.

Chaudhary informed that the substation constructed at the cost of around Rs 750 million is ready and the transmission line built at the cost of Rs 650 million has also come into operation after testing.