KATHMANDU: Energy Minister Umakanta Jha has urged the China Three Gorges Corporation to immediately begin the construction of West Seti Hydropower Project.
Speaking at a programme organised by Girija Prasad Koirala Pratisthan and West Seti Concerned Society in the Capital today, Minister Jha urged the Chinese company to proceed with the construction work without any delay, saying that the investment atmosphere is back in the country and top leaders of political parties have already signed a commitment paper for the same.
In August 2012, the Government of Nepal and the Three Gorges Corporation had signed an agreement to complete the 750-megawatt West Seti Hydropower Project by 2019.
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Wu Chuntai, Nepal Government high-ranking officials, chairperson of the Investment Board and top political leaders as well as people from Doti, Baitadi, Achham and Bajhang in the far-western region were present at the programme. Chinese Ambassador Wu said the construction of project would begin once ‘matters are settled at the policy, technical and local level’. Unified CPN-Maoist leader Lekhraj Bhatta said the government should bring energy policy. All the concerned bodies should be accountable to the public for the construction of West Seti, he added.
Likewise, Nepali Congress central members Ram Sharan Mahat and Sujata Koirala and CPN-UML leader Pradeep Gyawali admitted that major political parties had caused obstructions in increasing investment in the hydropower sector in Nepal.
Investment Board Chairperson Radhesh Panta, Director of the Department of Electricity Development DB Singh and Secretary at the Energy Ministry Bishwa Prakash Pundit suggested that the government formulate a policy about the hydropower sector, keeping the interests of the nation in top priority.
Source : RSS
