Kathmandu, August 17 : Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barshaman Pun has said that the share of Nepali migrant workers in the Dhunsakhola and Simbuwakhola hydropower projects should be increased.
While speaking at a meeting of the Citizen’s Hydropower Project Program Operation and Management Committee on Friday (August 15), he instructed Hydropower Investment Development Company Limited (HIDCL) to take the initiative in this regard.
“In order to augment the size of the share of these projects, every interested Nepali working abroad shall be encouraged to invest at least Rs 500,000/per person in them,” Minister Pun stated arguing that if this happens, the family of that person can accrue financial benefits on a monthly basis.”
The responsibility to construct and bring both hydropower projects into operation has been provided to
Remit Hydro, a subsidiary company of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, is handling the responsibility of constructing the 77.5 MW Dhunsakhola and 70.3 MW Simbuwakhola.
The process of detailed engineering study and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of both the projects is said to be in the final stage. It is estimated the total construction cost of them will amount to Rs 21 billion.