New major Indo-Nepal power transmission line agreed upon by both countries

 

SILIGURI: The handshaking gets stronger. India, with its high power demand in one side and Nepal in the other end with high power potential have come closer with the recently agreed planning for a new major trans-border 400 KVA power transmission line that can handle 1200MW power.
The other and upcoming major Indo-Nepal power transmission line is excepted to become operational by 2015 between Dhalkebar in Nepal and Muzaffarpur in India.
According to Mr. H Koirala, Secretary, Energy Department of Nepal, a new cross border transmission line will be set up from west Nepal to India. After having the issue discussed with Indian authority through Nepal's External Affairs Ministry, both the countries have come to a final agreement on the matter in recently concluded meeting of Energy Group under the South Asian Sub-Regional Cooperation.
As per the feasibility study, the new transmission lineis going to be a 125km long one between Butwal in West Nepal and Gorakhpur in the state of UP in India. Though initially planned to be a 132KV one, it was further upgraded to 400KV. As estimated the line needs a financial support of around INR 300 Crore.
More than five big hydropower projects with a collective capacity of around 20,000 MW are under feasibility study in West Nepal at present. Nepal cannot consume the output of those. On the other side, export of the surplus power, generated out of these projects with renewable source of the country to India, can get the financially crunched Nepal into a more comfortable situation.
India had always been interested in importing power from Nepal. "We are keen on harvesting Nepal's untapped Hydropower. A proper handshaking between Nepal and India in power sector can bring in significant benefits," said Indian Union Home Minister Mr. S K Shinde told ET earlier during his tenure as Union Power minister.  

19 Nov, 2012, 04.54PM IST, Debasis Sarkar,ET Bureau