Govt. to speed up construction of big hydropower projects

Kathmandu / November 08: Amid fuel crisis caused by an ‘unofficial’ blockade of supplies into the country by India, the government is planning to speed up the constructions of big hydropower projects, a source said.

The source said that the government is resorting to the move to make the country independent in terms of fuel production and narrow a huge trade deficit, deeming the hydropower as the best alternative to such steps.

Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi said that the government is planning to speed up construction of hydropower projects like Budi Gandaki.

Meanwhile, Dipak Rauniyar, executive chief of the Jalavidhyut and Bikash Company, said that there is no need to ask for foreign investments in up to 1,000 megawatts-hydropower project as investors at home are ready to invest.

Earlier, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli recently said that existing load shedding hours could be ended within one year if all under-construction hydropower projects are completed.

Minister Rayamajhi said that around 500 megawatts power would be imported from Dhalkebar-Mujaffarpur Hydropower Project under Nepal-India transmission line.

The country imports fuel worth around Rs 140 billion from foreign countries with liquefied petroleum gas worth around Rs 40 billion alone. RSS