'Development works should be advanced considering environmental impacts'

Kathmandu, Aug. 25: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh has said that the developmental works should be expedited by considering the environmental impacts.     

At an interaction programme on Sunday organized by the Urban Development Ministry on facilitation for environmental study, Singh said that development initiatives should be accelerated without destroying the environment.     

"There is an immense impact on the environment due to climate change. Development works should be advanced by considering this fact," he added.     

The Deputy Prime Minister viewed that dillydallying happened in development works in the name of environmental assessment should be ended adding that this makes the projects more expensive.     

During the programme, Minister for Energy Dipak Khadka said that the issues of clearing forest areas and land acquisition should be addressed to meet the government target of producing 28,500 megawatts of power in a decade.     

Khadka shared that the government was working to amend Acts and laws that have created obstacles in developing the energy projects.     

Likewise, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Devendra Dahal said some of the provisions of the Forest Act and National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act should be amended for the nation's development.     

Similarly, Minister for Forest and Environment Yin Bahadur Shahi said his ministry was positive to resolve the issues of the development aspects related to his ministry and viewed that development and climate change impact reduction should be taken ahead simultaneously.     

Also speaking at the event, Minister for Land Management, Cooperative and Poverty Alleviation Balaram Adhikari said the ministries should work to ensure speedy development in the country by revising the Acts that have created obstructions in the development initiatives.     

Secretaries of different ministers also shared their views.     

Earlier on Thursday, a taskforce was formed to identify and troubleshoot the issues on forest, environment and land acquisition witnessed while developing the projects under the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation.     

Secretary at the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat Suresh Acharya has led the taskforce.     

Joint secretaries at the Department of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Sushil Chandra Acharya and Indira Dahal, joint secretaries at the Ministry of Forest and Environment Dr Maheshwor Dhakal and Meghnath Kafle and Director General of the Department of Electricity Department Nabin Raj Singh are the members in the taskforce while Joint Secretary Kalanidhi Paudyal of Water and Energy Commission Secretariat is named as the member-secretary.     

The taskforce is assigned to submit its report with recommendations to address issues relating to policy, legal and procedural.(RSS)