KATHMANDU: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Dipak Khadka, has said that the government is carrying out works to link the poor and indigent population on the journey of prosperity through the development of energy.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the 25th Silver Jubilee of the Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN) here today, he said arrangements were being made to allot shares of hydropower plants to the poor and underprivileged in the affected areas, without collateral.
“At present, only the well-off people are buying the shares of hydropower projects. The government plans to make provisions for providing collateral-free shares to the poor and underprivileged population of the project-affected areas,” he said.
He urged the private sector to invest with confidence in the energy sector as the market for the electricity produced is ensured.
Minister Khadka said that although it used to take a lot of time for the development of hydropower sector in the past, it has now become easier to work as most of the hydropower stations have access to motorways.
Stating that the recent Cabinet meeting had already approved the Energy Development Roadmap 2081 BS, he said the role of the private sector was important for its implementation.
“The government understands the problems of the private sector very well. It will move ahead by resolving the policy problems seen in the process of energy production. Earlier, only the private sector was given the responsibility of energy production, but now the private sector can also construct transmission lines. I urge the private sector to take advantage of this,” he said.
IPPAN President Ganesh Karki said that the energy development roadmap would be historic for the development of Nepal’s energy sector. He said there would be no difficulty in fulfilling the target set by the government if the government solved the problems seen in the development of the energy sector.
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