The construction process of Sunkoshi-III (683 MW) power project has moved ahead.
For this, on the proposal of the Government of Nepal, the Government of Bangladesh has agreed to visit Kavrepalanchok and Ramechhap districts under the Sunkoshi River flowing through the border of Kavrepalanchok, Sindhupalchok, Ramechhap and Sindhuli districts next December.
Last Tuesday, a meeting of the Secretary-level Joint Steering Committee (JSC) for energy cooperation between Nepal and Bangladesh approved the proposal to build the project.
Joint Secretary and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Energy Madhu Bhetwal said that Bangladesh has also been proposed for the construction of 600 MW Khimti Shivalaya Hydropower Project.
According to him, Sunkoshi III was led by Devendra Karki, Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation on behalf of Nepal and Mohammad Habibur Rahman, Secretary at the Ministry of Power, Energy and Minerals on behalf of Bangladesh.
Nepal Electricity Authority and Bangladesh Power Development Board have been assigned to trade electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh had proposed to build a project of national pride in Nepal after the two countries signed an agreement on cooperation in the energy sector in 2018 BS.
The project, which is currently being studied at various stages by the Department of Power Development, is in the process of being constructed by Bangladesh in a joint venture.
Survey, geological study and engineering design work including project serofero rock have also been completed for the project.
Engineer Subash Thapaliya of the department informed that the work of environmental impact assessment (EIA) and public hearing at the local level is still pending.
According to him, public hearings have not been held at EIA and local level since last year due to Kovid-19.
Both of these works will be started after the risk of corona is removed. The agenda and zoning report for EIA has been approved by the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and the Ministry of Forests and Environment.
Engineer Thapaliya said, “The work of EIA has been postponed this year as there is no working environment for the consulting company due to Kovid.”
As soon as the technical work of the project criteria and work report (TOR) was completed, the rest of the work was halted due to the high risk of corona virus in Nepal.
A Nepali and a Chinese consultant had already submitted the TOR of Sunkoshi-III to the Department of Power Development in January, 2008.
According to the TOR, the work from technical design to survey has been completed.
The report also mentioned the issue of providing compensation to the households, regions and communities directly and indirectly affected by the project.
Suggestions were also sought from schools, hospitals, health posts, stakeholders and organizations in the districts, municipalities and villages and wards affected by the project.
The department had allocated Rs 190 million for the study of Sunkoshi III and Sunkoshi II projects.
Engineer Thapaliya said that it would cost Rs. 330 million to complete the study of both the projects.
He said, “Various studies so far have shown that Sunkoshi is more likely to be third than second.”
Under the project, it has been proposed to construct a dam on the Sunkoshi River at the border of Temal Gaonpalika-9 of Kavrepalanchok and at Lubhughat of Khandadevi Gaonpalika-1 of Ramechhap.
The proposed project will generate 536 MW of electricity from Sunkoshi-3 and for this, a 484 meter long and 166 meter high dam will be constructed on the river at Lubhughat and 570 cubic meters per second water will be taken from a 1.1 km long and nine meter diameter tunnel to the power house near Lubhughat. The water will be discharged into the Sunkoshi river again by the tailrace.
Preliminary studies have shown that the construction of the project could affect about 1,600 families in Kavrepalanchok, Sindhupalchowk, Ramechhap and Sindhuli districts.
The project will affect three villages and two Napas of Sindhupalchowk, three villages and two municipalities of Kavrepalanchok, two villages of Ramechhap and one village of Sindhuli.
As per the Environment Protection Act 2053 and Rule 4 (1) of the Environment Protection Rules 2054, Schedule-2, while preparing the EIA report, ‘opinion-suggestions’ have to be taken on issues related to physical, biological, social, economic and cultural sectors in the affected areas. The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and the Ministry of Forest and Environment have filed a joint public appeal.
MP Gokul Prasad Banskota said that the development dream was coming true as the process of Sunkoshi III, a project of national pride, was moving forward. Stating that discussions with the concerned bodies to relocate the families affected by the project have been halted due to Corona, he informed that the project would develop fisheries, boating, hotels and other tourist destinations.
In 1985, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) conducted a feasibility study in the area. According to the organization, Sunkoshi is the third of the 10 best reservoir-based power plants. After the construction of Nepal’s third hydropower project (2.4 MW capacity) in Panauti in 2022 BS, the second project of the proposed Sunkoshi-3 district will be held.
This project was also included in the second investment conference held in Kathmandu in April, 2018. If the access road to the project has been reached, there is no problem for the transmission line. The construction site of this project is at a distance of 60 kilometers from Kathmandu.
