MCC project to begin from August 2023 after three-year delay

 Kathmandu, Aug. 18

The Millennium Challenge Account Nepal (MCA-N) informed on Thursday that the transmission line and road upgradation projects funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation of the United States of America will begin in August 2023.

The project was supposed to enter into force on 30 June 2020 as planned a year earlier but the deadline couldn't be met as the parliament couldn't ratify the programme as mentioned in the bilateral agreement signed between the governments of Nepal and the USA in 2017.

The project was mired in a controversy before it got ratified by the federal parliament as some groups blamed for its association with the Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) – a US military programme in the region.

However, with the ratification of the project in February this year, the MCA Nepal Development Committee has expedited the process to implement the programme.

"The tentative date of commencement will be a day in August 2023 and it will be completed in 2028," said Executive Director of the MCA Nepal, Khadga Bahadur Bisht at an interaction with journalists on Thursday.

MCC is a US government agency with whom the Government of Nepal has signed an agreement to implement a US$ 630 million programme to construct large transmission lines, including Butwal-Gorakhpur cross-border transmission facility, and rehabilitation of strategic roads. Of the total cost of the project, $500 million will be funded by the MCC and $130 million contributed by Nepal.

 

Titled as the New Butwal-Gorakhpur Transmission Line, the project is the second cross-border line after Dhalkebar-Mujaffarpur that will help in energy exchange and trade. The project was envisioned in 1996.

The three-year delay is likely to cost additional administration and management cost of US$ 6.45 million.

According to Bisht, the MCC model has a robust preparedness plan and allocates sufficient time and resources for it so that the implementation could move forward smoothly. About 12.5 per cent of the total budget would be spent on pre-Entry Into Force (EIF) preparations while implementation phase investment would be 87.5 per cent of the budget.  

Bisht said that the government has approved the Environment Impact Assessment report, and process has begun to cut the trees on the way to construct the transmission line. Meanwhile, of the 315-km transmission line, 30-km stretch is being re-surveyed to find if re-alignment is needed at certain locations.

"Tender document for transmission line is ready; it will be opened on the basis of international competition and MCC procurement guidelines," he said.

There will be 854 towers in 315km length of the transmission line. Earlier, the number of towers was set at 1,315 but to reduce the environmental and social impacts of the project, height of the towers is increased and number reduced.

Likewise, about 77km road from Dhankohla to Shiva Khola in Dang district will be rehabilitated. To support this development, MCA-N has established a laboratory at the Department of Roads to find better solutions.

The project is supposed to create 7,300 full time employments during the project period. According to the MCA-N, other benefits to the country will also include using local construction materials and services, technology transfer and social inclusion.

Similarly, in the long-run, there will be improvement in reliability on national transmission line, expansion of economic investment, increment in government income, creation of employment at the local level, and reduction in greenhouse gases.

Meanwhile, Bisht said that there will be no research in the project, and new technology and tools will be used. All documents will be published online and they will be the property of MCA-N.

  Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 19 August 2021.