Govt. to provide full support to MCC projects: Minister Basnet

Kathmandu, Oct 2: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Shakti Bahadur Basnet has said there would be full support from the government in the construction of transmission lines with the grant assistance of the US Project, Millennium Corporation Compact (MCC). 

Minister Basnet shared the government would responsibly carry out activities to complete the project within the stipulated deadline as the 315-km (Naglebhare-Ratmate-Hetauda-Damauli-New Butwal) transmission line is the backbone of Nepal's transmission system. 

In a meeting with a delegation led by Chief Executive Officer of MCC Alice Albright at the Energy Ministry on Monday, he mentioned the project would be completely implemented as a significant contributor to the energy sector of Nepal.

Chief Executive Officer of MCC Alice Albright arrived here on Sunday on a five-day visit to celebrate the successful launch of the MCC-Nepal Compact. Stating that a process including land acquisition required for the construction of transmission line and sub-station has already been initiated, Minister Basnet clarified the government has given importance to the project tagging it a national pride. 

He however shared the government would not leave any stone unturned for the smooth implementation of the project, adding the transmission lines are very significant for the country to export power. 

He expressed the government's determination to complete the project on time. 

The Energy Minister viewed remarkable improvements would be made in economic, social and gender sectors as anticipated following the implementation of the project. 

Similarly, CEO Albright mentioned they have taken MCC as the project taking bilateral relations between Nepal and US to a new height. 

She also expressed happiness over smoothly entering into the transmission and road improvement projects in the implementation phase through MCA Nepal. 

The CEO also thanked the government of Nepal for according importance to the project coding it as the national pride project. 

CEO Albright said she was confident there would be crucial support from the Nepal government side for the smooth implementation of the project. 

Secretary at the Energy Ministry, Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, MCA Nepal Chief Executive Officer Khadga Bahadur Bista, among others, were also present on the occasion. 

The government and Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) under the US government signed the Millennium Challenge Compact on 14 September 2017 and the implementation phase commenced on 29 August 2022.  

There is a provision that the transmission lines and road construction projects under the MCC Nepal Compact should be completed within five years after the commencement of construction activities. (RSS)