TANAHUN: The overall physical construction progress of the 140 Megawatt capacity storage-type Tanhuwa Hydropower Project, promoted by Tanhuwa Hydropower Limited (THL)—a fully-owned subsidiary of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA)—has reached 75.5 percent.

This national pride project, under construction on the Seti River, is being built with concessional loan assistance from the Government of Nepal, NEA, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Under the project, the progress of dam and headworks construction (Package-1) has reached 59 percent. Following the diversion of the Seti River through a diversion tunnel, the concreting of the 140-meter-high main dam, being constructed by Song Da-Kalika JV, commenced on March 20, 2025. The project stated that construction of grouting gallery tunnels, drilling, and concreting works are currently moving ahead at a rapid pace on the right and left banks.

Under the powerhouse and equipment installation (Package-2), overall progress has reached 77 percent. In this package, which is being constructed by China’s Sino Hydro Corporation, excavation of the underground structures has been completed 100 percent, while concreting works for structures including the powerhouse, surge tank, cable tunnel, and tailrace have also finished. Currently, electromechanical equipment including turbines, generators, and main inlet valves are being installed. Out of the 213.3-meter-long penstock pipe, installation of 211.3 meters has been completed, and painting as well as testing are ongoing.

Similarly, the progress of the Damauli-Bharatpur 220 kV transmission line (Package-3), being constructed by the Indian company KEC International Limited, has reached 78 percent. Out of the 94 towers to be constructed for the 33-kilometer-long transmission line, foundation construction for 79 and erection of 69 towers have been completed. Tree marking work on the Chitwan side has concluded and the report has been submitted to the Bagmati Province Forest Directorate, while work on the Tanahun side is ongoing.

Meanwhile, delegations from the ADB and JICA recently inspected the project site and reviewed construction progress as well as social and environmental safeguard aspects.

Regular consultation meetings are being conducted with the locals of Beteni, Jhaputar, Hoksetar, and Belbas areas of Vyas Municipality, which are affected by the project. The project stated that works are being carried out by prioritizing noise and dust pollution reduction raised by the locals, construction of gabion structures for riverbank protection before the monsoon, and siren installation for an emergency information system.

For biodiversity conservation, a fish hatchery has been brought into operation in the project area, while an agreement has been reached to revise the ‘Madi Offset Plan’ in the Madi River area according to the ‘No Net Loss’ principle.

Through consumer committees, 96 community development projects have been completed so far in the project-affected areas. Seven plans, including truss bridges, cable supply for suspension bridges, and school building construction, are in the implementation phase.

Under the gender equality and social inclusion program, women from the Magar community of Rishing Rural Municipality-8, Paltyang, have been provided with off-season vegetable farming and financial literacy training, agricultural inputs, and hand tractors.

Similarly, to make the land acquisition and compensation distribution process within the buffer zone transparent, an orientation on safeguard policies was also conducted for the officials of the Compensation Determination Committee.

In the meantime, the detailed project report of the 126 Megawatt capacity Lower Seti Hydropower Project, which Tanhuwa Hydropower Limited is preparing to promote, has been prepared.

The environmental impact assessment report of the project has been submitted to the Ministry of Forests and Environment, while field studies and data collection of the affected areas for compensation determination have been completed. The company stated that the construction work of the project’s exploration tunnel portal has also been successfully completed.

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