May 18,  Kathmandu- Millennium Challenge Account Nepal Development Committee (MCA-Nepal) is planning to cut down 222,000 trees while constructing a power transmission project to be implemented in collaboration with the Millennium Challenge Corporation of America.

According to the Environmental Impact Assessment Report approved by the Ministry of Forests and Environment, trees have to be removed from 354.4 hectares out of the 777.5 hectares of forest area used by the 313.9 km long 400 KW transmission line and substation project. It is seen that 78 thousand 642 trees have to be cut from the 330.4-hectare area of ​​112 community forests, 1 thousand 194 trees from 4.4-hectare area of ​​8 confessional forests, and 122 thousand 182 trees from 442.7-hectare government-protected forest.

According to the report, 47,908 trees have to be cut from the forests of Nuwakot, 45,115 from Tanahu, 35,915 from Makwanpur, 29,561 from Dhading, and 17,989 from West Nawalparasi. Similarly, 12,548 trees have to be cut down from Palpa forest, 6,035 from East Nawarparasi, 3,696 from Sindhupalchowk, 2,173 from Chitwan, and 1,378 from Kathmandu. The report states that 2 million 20 thousand 180 trees will be planted for these trees and coordination will be made with the District Forest Offices for the same.

The project will displace 187 households. About Rs. 3 billion will be used to minimize the damage caused by the project. It is estimated that 7,300 people will get jobs for three and a half years and 60 percent of them will be Nepali workers. The project will have to acquire 124 hectares of land. Of that, 68.7 hectares is agricultural land and about 50 hectares is forest area. 5.5 hectares of land and houses. The project will stop the usurpation of 1,347 hectares of permanent land. Due to security reasons, new houses and settlements and planting of tall trees will be banned on such lands.

'Parliamentary approval of the agreement is another milestone'

According to MCA-Nepal, the Environmental Impact Assessment Report, approved by the Ministerial Decision on April 3, 2010, is a major part of the ongoing preparations for the construction of transmission lines and sub-stations under the Power Transmission Project.

"This achievement is an important milestone in achieving the prerequisites for access to the workplace that must be met before MCC Nepal enters into compact implementation," said Khadga Bahadur Bista, Executive Director of MCA-Nepal.

MCA Nepal claims that the report identifies the current state of the physical, biological, socio-economic, and cultural environment of the project implementation area and also offers suggestions on measures to be taken to minimize the potential impact.

The Environmental Impact Assessment Report has been approved under the Environmental Protection Act, 2019 A.D, and Environmental Protection Rules,2020 A.D.

During the environmental impact assessment, intensive procedures were adopted for data collection and analysis, and interaction and public hearing programs were conducted in all 30 villages and municipalities of the 10 districts where the project will be implemented.

Based on Nepal's environmental laws and regulations and international best practices, the report proposes various measures to prevent, mitigate or manage negative impacts and to maximize project benefits, MCA Nepal said.

As per the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act, 2019 A.D this Environmental Impact Assessment Report has also formulated a detailed environmental, social, health, and safety management plan to ensure the safety of the affected workers and communities during the project implementation. MCA Nepal has informed that the environmental monitoring plan and environmental testing process have also been determined to ensure that the commitments expressed in the report have been complied with. Once the report is approved, MCA-Nepal will now proceed with the process of obtaining approval to use the national forest area and remove trees and plants from that area.

The MCC Nepal Compact was signed between the Government of Nepal and the US Government's Millennium Challenge Corporation on 29 September 2074 to operate two projects proposed to address two major obstacles to Nepal's development identified by the Government of Nepal. Among two projects, the Power Transmission Project, which has been declared as a project of national pride, will construct a 314 km long 400 KV transmission line and three 400 Kw sub-stations. The transmission line to be constructed by MCC will pass through 30 villages and municipalities in 10 districts. The project will ensure the benefit of the affected local stakeholders through the partnership program and will also help in the empowerment of Nepal's energy sector.