February 4: The promoters of Tanahun-based 126-MW Lower Seti Hydropower Project have submitted the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the project to the Electricity Development Department.

Kiran Kumar Shrestha, managing director of Tanahun Hydropower Limited, informed that they have submitted the EIA report along with suggestions to the regulatory body. The land acquisition process of the project has also been advanced. Shrestha said that the proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation for approval to advance the land acquisition process required for various structures of the project. 

Under the project, a 32-meter high dam will be constructed on Seti River near Saranghat in Bandipur Rural Municipality-6 and Devghat Rural Municipality-3. In order to produce the electricity, the project plans to flow water through a 6.8 km long tunnel in Devghat Rural Municipality-3 and 4 to a semi-underground power plant to be built on the right bank of the Kaligandaki River at Devghat, which is located about 500 meters below the confluence of the Seti and Kali Gandaki rivers.

Project Chief Shyamji Bhandari said that some parts of Bandipur Rural Municipality-6, Byas Municipality-13, 14, Devghat Rural Municipality-2, 3 and 4, Rishing Rural Municipality-1 and 3, Abu Khaireni Rural Municipality-5 and 6, Bharatpur Metropolitan Municipality-29 will be affected by the project.

Electricity will be generated by constructing a semi-underground powerhouse in Devghat Rural Municipality-4 Gaighat. The generated electricity will be integrated into the national power system through the 220 KV Damauli-New Bharatpur transmission line constructed by the Tanahun hydropower project. For this, about two kilometers of transmission line should be constructed.

About 12 km long reservoir of semi-reservoir Lower Seti project will be extended from the dam site to Sundegaon. The project will generate 52 million units of electricity annually. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 25 billion.

Initiatives have also been started to ensure investment for the project. Tanahun Hydropower Limited has already sent a letter to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation requesting to facilitate investment from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the project through the Nepal Electricity Authority.

According to Project Chief Bhandari, preparations are being made to call for bids in 2081 BS. A detailed study has been completed for the construction of the Lower Seti Hydropower Project. The project had appointed an expert group and proceeded with the work.

The company has already received the survey permission for electricity generation. In addition, an agreement was signed with a joint venture of India’s WAPCOS and Nippon Koi of Japan on April 12, 2019, for consulting services for the preparation of detailed engineering design and tender-related documents with the help of about USD 3.5 million received from the Asian Development Bank. -- RSS