MoEWRI looks forward to expedite day-to-day office works of Budhigandaki Hydropower Project

Kathmandu; The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MOEWRI), in a bid to expedite the construction of Budhigandaki Hydropower Project, has sought the approval of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to manage necessary funds to establish office for day to day operation.

According to the MoEWRI, it has asked the MoF to allow cash transfer of Rs 1.5 billion to manage expenses for establishment of office, recruitment of employees and purchase of required logistics. The government has already registered a company to construct the 1,200 MW storage project.

As of now, the government has been doing preliminary works of the hydropower project through Reconstruction and Resettlement Unit. According to the MoEWRI, it has so far distributed compensation of Rs 65 billion to acquire 48,948 ropanis of land.

The government has estimated to acquire 58,153 ropanis of land in total. A Cabinet meeting held on April 7 had decided to build the Budhigandaki Hydropower Project with domestic investment by scrapping the license awarded to the Chinese company- China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC).