Surkhet. Chief Minister of Karnali State Yamlal Kandel has directed to complete the remaining work of kohalpur-Surkhet 132 KV transmission line at the earliest.

Inspecting various structures constructed under the transmission line from Surkhet to Kohalpur of Banke today, he said the construction should not be delayed now as the problems seen at the people’s level have been resolved. Chief Minister Kandel directed the project office to complete the work of ‘field’ under the transmission line by the coming Tihar and connect the electricity to the substation.

He inspected the substation of 132 KV transmission line at Surkhet and Kohalpur, under-construction tower at Gavar and discussed the remaining works with the employees of Banke and Bardiya National Park and Transmission Line.

Minister for Federal Forest and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri was also present in the meeting. Chief Minister Kandel urged the government to focus on speedy completion of the works by increasing institutional capacity. He urged the park staff to take initiatives at the local level to resolve the hurdles seen in the national priority projects linked to the daily routine of the Karnali people.

Forest Shahi said that although the work has been forwarded with maximum priority, there has been some delay. “We will do what we have to do on behalf of the ministry. If the remaining problems are found, send it in writing, if the decision has to be taken by the ministry level and the council of ministers, the work should not be stopped for any reason,” he said.

In the discussion, Bardiya National Park warden Ashok Ram pledged not to delay the cutting and transportation of the remaining trees. Project chief Rabi Chaudhary said only three out of 162 towers are yet to be constructed and 10 km of the line is yet to be pulled. According to him, there has been a delay in digging the foundation of the tower due to the water from the field in Banke Baniyabhar and it will be completed as soon as the water recedes.

Earlier, there were compensation disputes in Baniyabhar, Gabhar of Banke and Subbakuna of Surkhet. The dispute has been resolved after the government changed the compensation policy in the case of national priority projects. In addition, the project is preparing to connect the line with the help of ‘drones’ in some places where it is difficult to cut and transport trees due to geographical complexity. The transmission line starts from Kohalpur of Banke and ends at Subbakuna substation at Birendranagar-11 in Surkhet.