Minister Khadka Announces Swift Initiation of Upper Arun Hydropower Project with Local Stakeholder Participation

Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka, announced that work on the Upper Arun Hydropower Project would begin shortly. Speaking at a press conference organized by the Nepal Press Union in Sankhuwasabha, Minister Khadka emphasized that financial resources for the project would be secured promptly, paving the way for its early initiation.

Khadka highlighted his efforts to ensure local participation in the project, including government provisions for concessional loans to underprivileged families. “We are working to ensure that every household in Sankhuwasabha has Rs 500,000 worth of shares in the project,” he stated, aiming to set a precedent for involving poor and underprivileged communities across the country in similar ventures.

The Minister stressed the importance of maximizing the district’s water resources to foster a prosperous Sankhuwasabha and mentioned ongoing discussions with Chief District Officers to address delays in constructing the national transmission line along the Koshi Corridor.

Khadka also vowed to achieve nationwide electrification within the next two years, in collaboration with the private sector, and described the energy sector as a crucial pillar for realizing Nepal’s goal of economic prosperity. He underscored the government’s target of producing 28,500 megawatts of electricity within the next decade, noting that Sankhuwasabha alone has the potential to generate approximately 5,000 megawatts.

Additionally, the Minister advocated for providing electricity at subsidized rates to government hospitals, schools, and for water supply and irrigation purposes, to better serve the public.

Regarding the ongoing dispute over electricity tariffs for trunk and dedicated lines, Minister Khadka assured that the issue would be resolved soon, as it has been taken up by the Parliament’s Account Committee. He emphasized that industrialists must pay for the electricity they consume.