KATHMANDU, August 13: The Tanahun Hydropower Project has acquired 500 ropanis of land for the Lower Seti Hydropower Project, which has a capacity to produce 126 MW of electricity. Shyamji Bhandari, head of the hydropower project, informed that an estimated Rs 700 million will be spent on building the necessary structures, including compensation distribution, reservoir, powerhouse, and staff accommodation. The project is expected to affect ward number 1 and 3 of Rishing Rural Municipality, Bandipur Rural Municipality-6, Devghat Rural Municipality-2, 3, and 4, Ambukhairni Rural Municipality-5 and 6, Wards 13 and 14 of Byas Municipality, and ward number 29 of Bharatpur Metropolitan Municipality in Chitwan.

Chief Bhandari stated that a dam measuring 213 meters in length, 32 meters in height, and 200 meters in width will be constructed near Saranghat, on the border of Bandipur Rural Municipality-6 and Devghat Rural Municipality-3. The Tanahun Hydropower Project, fully owned by Nepal Electricity Authority, has initiated the Lower Seti Hydropower Project with a capacity of 126 MW.

Project Managing Director Kiran Shrestha reported that with the construction of the 140 MW Tanahun Hydropower Project, the company has begun work on the Lower Seti Hydropower Project.

Shrestha mentioned that the electricity produced will be connected to the 220 KV Damauli-New Bharatpur transmission line, built by the Tanahun Hydropower Project, and fed into the national electricity grid. Electricity will be generated by constructing a semi-underground powerhouse at Devghat-4. He also noted that about two kilometers of transmission line will need to be constructed for this purpose.