Energy Minister stresses speedy project work

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar. 12: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Dipak Khadka has said that the hydropower projects to be built on the Arun River should be constructed soon and the benefits should be reaped.

During a discussion organised at the Ministry on Monday regarding the Upper Arun and Arun IV Hydropower Projects to be built on the Arun River, Minister Khadka said that the state has suffered huge losses due to the long period of non-construction of hydropower projects.

He said the country should benefit greatly by completing the construction of the Upper Arun, Arun IV and other hydroelectricity projects on time. 

Stating that problems will arise during the work, he said that the construction work should advance by resolving the problems seen during the construction. Energy Minister Khadka said that the work should be completed in a way by ensuring investment and benefits the country immensely. 

He said that the construction of the project should be given high priority as thousands of people will get employment during the construction of the project and the country will develop economically.

During the meeting, Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Suresh Acharya, Senior Energy Expert of the Ministry Prabal Adhikari, Joint Secretary of the Ministry Sandeep Kumar Dev, Director General of the Department of Electricity Development Navinraj Singh, Chief Executive Director of Upper Arun Phanindra Joshi, Director of Nepal Electricity Authority Nasibman Pradhan, Project Chief of Upper Arun Ramchandra Paudel and others attended the meeting.      

The participants in the discussion said that the country should work towards getting maximum benefits from both projects.