Kathmandu, Feb 18: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Deepak Khadka has said it is regrettable various accusations and unfounded propaganda are being spread against him from the parliament itself.
Responding to the questions put by lawmakers in the Zero Hour and Special Hour in the meeting of the House of Representatives today, Minister Khadka challenged the lawmakers to prove his involvement in any type of financial irregularities, illegal activities and unlawful benefit.
If I have done anything illegal, I am ready to resign not only as a minister but also as an MP. I challenge you to prove the facts of the illegal act,” he asserted. He also said that there was baseless propaganda against him from the MPs and he felt dishonoured by it.
Energy Minister Khadka raised the issue of the Nepal Electricity Authority’s leadership ignoring the study report when directed to implement the report to resolve the ‘dedicated’ and ‘trunk line’ electricity tariff dispute, not coordinating with the ministry, and not attending the meeting of the authority’s board of directors, among others.
He said that after assuming the responsibility of the ministry, he developed a clear concept that Nepal’s prosperity would be possible only through energy development. Minister Khadka said the heavy rains, floods and landslides that occurred on September 27 and 28 have severely affected the country’s hydropower projects, transmission infrastructure and irrigation system, and about Rs 7 billion has been spent to speed up the operation and maintenance of power and irrigation systems.
He claimed that the ministry has done remarkable job in the last seven months.The Department of Electricity Development has issued survey permits for 16 hydropower projects and 33 transmission lines. Similarly, production and construction permits have been issued for 16 hydropower projects, construction permits issued for 11 transmission lines, survey permits for 14 solar power projects and construction permits for two solar power projects,” the Energy Minister said in parliament.
According to him, the Energy Development Roadmap 2081 has been approved by the Cabinet and the policy aims to increase hydropower generation to 28,500 MW by 2035. Out of this, 13,500 MW is planned for domestic consumption and 15,000 MW for export.
The total cost for this targeted power generation is estimated to be around US $46.5 billion or Rs 6 trillion and 231 billion. He briefed the House that various agreements were signed to further strengthen power trade between Nepal, India and Bangladesh.
An agreement was signed between Nepal Electricity Authority, Bangladesh Power Development Board and NTPC Power Trade Corporation on October 3 to export 40 megawatt electricity and exporting power to Bangladesh via India has been started from November 15.
Similarly, various deals for import-export power between Nepal and India have also been signed, he added, “251-megawatt electricity is being exported to India through 12 hydropower projects as well as agreement to exchange 1004 megawatt power and to purchase 230 megawatt electricity from India has been signed.”
Minister Khadka mentioned that there is a plan of increasing 800-megawatt capacity of Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur transmission line to 1,000 megawatt, concluding 220-kV Chameliya-Jauljibi transmission line within 2025 and concluding other important transmission line within 2035.
The government has started process to forward big hydropower projects including Budhigandaki (1,200 megawatt), Upper Arun (1,063 megawatt) and Uttarganga (828 megawatt), informed Minister Khadka.#nepal #Energy #rss
