Kathmandu: Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal has shown concern over the construction of the Budhigandaki Hydropower Project. During a meeting today in his office with Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha and the project’s Chief Executive Officer Arun Rajouria, he emphasized that the construction work must move forward within a fixed timeline.
During the discussion, Speaker Aryal noted that the Budhigandaki project is not limited to electricity generation alone but is a project of overall national importance, directly linked to tourism promotion, agricultural market expansion, and employment creation.
“This is a national pride project. Whatever delay was to happen has already happened. Now, there should be no further delay in accelerating its construction,” he said, urging the project chief to prepare a clear work schedule specifying when construction will begin and when it will be completed.
At the meeting, Minister Shrestha expressed the government’s commitment to providing necessary support to expedite the project. “Please clarify where the government-related issues lie; we are ready for the required coordination,” he told the project chief.
Similarly, Joint Secretary Rudra Singh Tamang from the Ministry of Energy stated that no effort would be spared from the ministry’s side to move the project forward.
On the occasion, Member of Parliament Bodhanarayan Shrestha expressed the view that prioritizing large infrastructure projects reflects the government’s seriousness toward national prosperity.
The reservoir-based Budhigandaki Hydropower Project, with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts, is a major national pride project to be constructed on the border of Gorkha District and Dhading District.
Jalasarokar