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
