Kathmandu. The Department of Electricity Development has published a public notice regarding the environmental study required for the construction of the electricity transmission line of the Upper Junbesi Khola Hydropower Project in Solukhumbu district.

Issuing a notice today, the Department has decided to construct 8.47 kilometers long 33 kV double circuit transmission line from the switchyard of the 5.575 MW Upper Junbesi Khola Hydropower Project to the switchyard of Lower Dudhkunda Khola Hydropower Project at Solududhkunda Municipality-2 in Solukhumbu district and the 4.71 kilometers long 132 kV single circuit transmission line from the switchyard of the 5.575 MW Upper Junbesi Khola Hydropower Project to the switchyard of Lower Dudhkunda Khola Hydropower Project at Ward No. 3 of Solukhumbu district.

According to the Department, the Preliminary Environmental Examination (IEE) report was prepared after the promoter company, Gorkhas Himalayan Hydro Limited, sought permission to construct the transmission line as per the Electricity Regulations, 2050. According to the report, the concerned person or institution may submit written feedback within 35 days from the date of publication of the project in case there may be significant adverse environmental impact from the construction and operation of the project.

The total length of the transmission line will be 13.18 kilometers. For this, 209 steel tubular poles will be constructed along the 33 KV transmission line and two towers will be constructed along the 132 KV transmission line. The project requires about 0.5 hectares of land permanently and about 0.53 hectares temporarily. The transmission line will cover around 9.66 hectares of land under the right of way.

According to the department, the minimum jurisdiction of 6.62 meters will be maintained for a 33 kV transmission line and 18 meters for a 132 kV transmission line. The project will be implemented minimizing the impact of soil erosion, flood and air pollution in accordance with the Electricity Act, 2049 BS and prevailing environmental standards in course of the construction and operation of the transmission line.