CIAA instructs govt to scrap 4 hydro licenses

KATHMANDU, Oct 29:

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has directed the Ministry of Energy (MOE) to scrap survey licenses of four hydropower project for failing to sign power purchase agreement and attaining financial closure within the set deadline.

Issuing a press statement, CIAA on Wedesday said that Kabeli-A (37.6 MW), Lower Balefi (20 MW) and Upper Ingwakhola (9.7 MW) hydropower projects have failed to meet the conditions of survey license so their licenses should be scrapped.

Likewise, CIAA also has directed MOE to scrap the survey license of Balefi-B (4.533 MW) which was allowed capacity upgradation but did not submit additional fees and sldofailed to as well as has not posted license renewal fee in time.

The anti-graft body has expedited investigation on the hydropower projects failing to develop the project but holding the license and has directed the MOE to take action against those developers.

Earlier, CIAA had instructed the ministry to scrap the licenses of 10 hydropower projects. CIAA directed to scrap the survey licenses of Bhotekoshi-5 (60 MW), Buku Khola (6 MW) and Karuwa Khola (36 MW) on September 5.

Similarly, it also had directed the ministry to scrap the power generation licenses of Lower Arun (400 MW), Chaharekhola (17.5 MW), Upper Mailung Khola (14.3 MW), Upper Solu Khola Sano (18 MW), Midim Khola (3.4 MW), Upper Khoranga Khola (6.8 MW) and Lower Indrawati (4.5 MW) hydropower projects for their failure to start project work within the set deadline.

Source: Republica