Clear hydro project hurdles: PM to secys

KATHMANDU, MAR 26 -

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai on Sunday directed ministries and secretaries to speed up big hydropower construction process by clearing pending jobs.

Addressing a meeting of the political committee of Cabinet, PM Bhattarai said hurdles to hydropower projects should be stamped out without creating any controversy. The prime minister convened the meeting after the parliamentary Natural Resources and Means Committee raised concerns over the signing of West Seti Hydroelectricity Project and local people threatened of protests if the project got the axe. 

According to prime minister’s press advisor, Ramrijan Yadav, the PM in the meeting said there should not be any barrier to projects invested by neighbouring countries.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, Finance Minister Barsa Man Pun, Minister for Local Development Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and Minister for Physical Construction Hyridesh Tripathi were also present in the meeting. The next meeting slated for Tuesday is likely to take a concrete decision on giving momentum to big hydropower projects.

Source: Kantipur