(a) whether the Nepal Government has requested for early repair of
transmission towers uprooted during the recent Kosi floods to restore power
supply from India;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE,
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND MINISTER OF STATE
IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER ( SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH )
(a) & (b) : Yes, Sir. The Government of Nepal has requested for restoration
of Forbesganj-Kataiya Section of Transmission Line in Bihar by mid-February,
2009. There are two transmission lines
(i) 132 kV Katiya-Forbesganj Circuit-I
and
(ii) 132 kV Katiya-Forbesganj Circuit-II of the Bihar State Electricity Board
(BSEB) from which power is fed to Nepal. These lines had collapsed due to the
devastating floods in Kosi river.
(c) : The Government of India had taken up the issue with the
Government of Bihar for early restoration of these transmission lines. The
Government of Bihar have intimated that work has started on Circuit-II line and
this line would be available for feeding power to Nepal by the end of February,
2009. The restoration of Circuit-I would be taken up by Bihar State Electricity
Board subsequently.