Kathmandu, November 22 : Minister for Energy, Hydropower and Irrigation Barshaman Pun has directed the concerned agencies to immediately complete the development of Detail Project Report (DPR) of Nalgad hydropower project. Minster Pun instructed the authorities to expedite project works acting on growing public complaints that the preparation of the reservoir-based 417-MW project having its construction site in Jajarkot is being prolonged.
In a discussion attended by Minster for Forest and Environment and member of House of Representatives from Jajarkot, Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Karnali State chief minister Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, joint secretary of ministry of energy Prabin Raj Aryal and Nalgad hydropower company chairperson Mohan Raj Pant and executive director Ramgopal Lageju on Saturday (November 21), he directed the concerned bodies to immediately accomplish the DPR.
Though DPR development has been continued since over four years, it has not yet been completed. It may be noted that the consulting company MWH Consultant had signed a memorandum of understanding with another company to complete the preparation of DPR within 32 months. Since then, the deadline has been extended from time to time.
Minster Pun has underlined the urgency of developing DPR without any delay as it is the game changing project of Karnai State. He also said that the government was effortful to muster foreign investment for the construction of the project. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has shown interest for investment in the project, the minister said, adding the ministry and JICA has held several rounds of dialogue regarding the investment. RSS
