KATHMANDU: Nepal’s Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka, and India’s Minister for Power, Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, jointly inspected the under-construction Arun III Hydropower Project on Tuesday, highlighting the project’s bilateral importance in energy cooperation.
The Indian minister is currently on a two-day official visit to Nepal. During their visit to the project site—located on the border of Makalu and Chichila rural municipalities in Sankhuwasabha district—the two ministers inaugurated Unit-2 of the 900-megawatt plant and participated in a symbolic tree plantation ceremony.
While touring the dam and powerhouse areas, the ministers received a progress briefing from the project’s contractor company and discussed challenges facing the ongoing construction work.
Minister Khadka extended gratitude to the Indian government for its continued support in Nepal’s energy development. “The government considers Arun III a flagship hydropower project and has given it top priority. We will not allow any setbacks in its completion,” he stated.
Indian Minister Khattar praised Nepal’s vast hydropower potential and reaffirmed India’s commitment to investing in the sector. “Arun III holds great promise for both countries. Timely completion will ensure shared benefits, and India stands ready to further collaborate in Nepal’s energy journey,” he said.
The Rs 104 billion project is being developed by India’s Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) and is considered one of the largest hydropower projects under Indian investment in Nepal. The foundation stone was jointly laid by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2018.
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