Govt active to forward Budhigandaki hydropower project: PM Karki

Kathmandu, Dec 3: Prime Minister Sushila Karki has shared that the government was active to put forward the construction of Budhigandaki hydropower project soon. 

She mentioned that a company has already been established for the construction of the project and necessary process would be forwarded for the arrangement to ensure that the amount of additional tax imposed on petroleum products be transferred to the account every year. 

Prime Minister Karki also directed the Energy Ministry and Finance Ministry to forward the process related to this soon, according to the PM's Secretariat. 

Prime Minister Karki on Wednesday had discussed with some former people's representatives of project-affected Gorkha, including former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, and Dhading as well as local stakeholders on this issue.  

Finance Minister Rameshwor Khanal and other officials of the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers were present on the occasion. 

The cost for the construction of 1,200-MW hydropower project was estimated to Rs 255 billion in 2079 BS, but now it is estimated to be more than Rs 400 billion. The government of Nepal has already provided Rs 42 billion as compensation to locals by acquiring their land for the construction of the hydropower project.  (RSS)