MCA Nepal Begins Compensation Distribution for Transmission Line Project in Tanahun

Millennium Challenge Account Nepal (MCA Nepal) has initiated the compensation process for landowners affected by the construction of transmission line towers in the Tanahun district under the US-funded electricity transmission project.

This 400 kV transmission line will run from the Ratamate substation to Damauli and then to New Butwal. A notice issued by the District Administration Office (DAO) Tanahun on September 17 calls on eligible landowners to apply for compensation within 21 days. Applicants must submit their ownership and usage-related documents at designated offices.

Those dissatisfied with the notice have 15 days to file complaints with the Ministry of Home Affairs, in line with the Land Acquisition Act of 1977. The compensation rates were finalized in a recent meeting involving local representatives, following site inspections and discussions.

The project involves erecting 199 towers across multiple municipalities, including Abukhaireni, Bandipur, Byas, Rishing, and Ghiring. Some of these towers will be placed on private land, while others will be on government property. The valuation process factored in land classification, market prices, and assessments from local authorities and financial institutions.

As part of the broader MCC initiative, a 315-kilometer transmission line will connect Lapsiphedi in Kathmandu to the Nepal-India border, with the New Damauli substation playing a key role in distributing power across the region.