Urja Khabar
KATHMANDU, The government has approved NHPC Limited, India, to study and develop two strategic hydropower projects in Sudurpashchim Province.
The 52nd meeting of the Investment Board of Nepal (IBN), chaired by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Monday, endorsed the decision. With the decision into effect, the Indian company will be carrying out the study and development of 750 MW West Seti Storage Hydropower Project and 450 MW Seti River-6 Hydropower Project.
The West Seti project is one of the much-hyped projects envisioned for construction decades ago. It is located in the far west of Nepal. The NHPC Limited, an entity of the Indian government, submitted a proposal in May to develop the project.
Meanwhile, the IBN board has directed the government authority to carry forward with the necessary work for the project development agreement (PDA) of the 679 MW Lower Arun Hydropower Project. The Monday meeting also decided to provide a survey license of the 327 MW Upper Marsyangdi-2 to Himtal Hydropower Company Pvt Ltd.
Similarly, the IBN has decided to take into the implementation of the Cabinet’s decision on the financial management of the 900 MW Upper Karnali Hydropower Project. Citing to promote investment in sustainable infrastructure development projects, the board decided to conduct ‘Sustainable Infrastructure Investment Forum-2022 in the second week of September.
Addressing the IBN meeting, Prime Minister Deuba directed the board to complete the study and construction of national priority projects like West Seti, Upper Karnali, Arun-3 and Lower Arun, among others, on time. He directed the government agencies concerned including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, Ministry of Forest and related authorities to maintain effective coordination to yield result-oriented output.
Prime Minister Deuba also stressed the need to adopt technologies to mitigate adverse impacts on the environment and human health while carrying out projects like cement industries. He praised the role of the IBN’s Chief Executive Officer and related officials in facilitating the big infrastructure projects and asked the officials concerned to expedite the projects.
