'Energy ministry free to decide fate of 14 projects'

KATHMANDU, Dec 16:

Energy Secretary Rajendra Kishore Kshatri on Monday said he was convinced that a recent direction on 14 hydropower projects by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) was not obligatory.

Kshatri made the comment after Prem Kumar Rai, acting secretary of CIAA, told the Agriculture and Water Resources Committee (AWRC) of the legislature-parliament that the anti-graft body had only advised the Ministry of Energy (MoE) and the Department of Electricity Development to take decision on the license of 14 hydropower projects on the basis of existing laws. “The energy ministry is free to decide on the fate of 14 projects,” he added.

Secretary Kshatri had been maintaining that CIAA’s direction was obligatory. He had also been saying that the ministry was not in a position to decide fate of the 14 projects. Kabeli A, which has loan and equity investment of the World Bank Group, is among the 14 projects.

Earlier, CIAA Chief Commissioner Lok Man Singh Karki had told the parliament’s Finance Committee that the anti-graft body had not directed, but advised the ministry. But MoE officials were not in the meeting.

Though the Finance Committee had told MoE officials they were free to take decision on the fate of the 14 projects, Energy Secretary Kshatri had said they were confused by contradictory directions from CIAA and Finance Committee.

In Monday’s meeting, Energy Secretary Kshatri sought AWRC’s direction on the issue. AWRC Chairman Gagan Thapa told Kshatri that it would take a decision on Tuesday.

Source: Republica