Banking News – Home Minister Sudan Gurung has sought the support of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha to resolve problems affecting hydropower projects under construction in Gorkha.

Minister Gurung visited the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation along with hydropower developers from Gorkha-1 to raise issues faced by projects being developed in the district.

Energy Minister Shrestha and a team from the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) listened to the concerns raised by the hydropower developers. The developers highlighted various issues, including the need for transmission line expansion as their projects move toward electricity generation, as well as other management-related challenges.

Minister Gurung requested Minister Shrestha and the NEA to facilitate the resolution of problems encountered during the construction of hydropower projects along rivers in Gorkha.

Gurung also urged hydropower developers to ensure transparency in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, focus on business rather than politics, and ensure that local communities benefit from hydropower projects being developed in their areas.

He assured the developers that the government would provide full facilitation and that the NEA would work to remove obstacles affecting project development. He also urged developers to remain focused on their projects without engaging in political activities.

During the discussion, Energy Minister Shrestha pledged full support to resolve the problems affecting hydropower projects in Gorkha and instructed the NEA to facilitate their development.

More than 10 hydropower projects, including the Budhigandaki Hydropower Project, are currently under construction in Gorkha. Minister Gurung brought the challenges faced by these projects to the Energy Ministry for resolution.

NEA Acting Executive Director Dirghayu Shrestha said efforts were already underway to address the problems faced by hydropower projects. He added that the authority was also working to mobilize resources to address transmission line-related challenges.