KATHMANDU: The government has formed a committee to monitor, coordinate, and facilitate infrastructure development in areas affected by the Melamchi Drinking Water Project.
According to Minister for Communications and Information Technology Jagadish Kharel, the Cabinet meeting held on November 24 decided to form the “Melamchi Project-Affected Area Monitoring, Coordination and Facilitation Committee” under the leadership of the Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
The meeting also approved a preliminary survey for restructuring the organization and management of Nepal Police, and sanctioned 37 temporary officer-level positions for projects and programs under the Ministry of Forests and Environment for FY 2025/26.
The government has further decided to advance the environmental approval process and the use of national forest land for hydropower projects that had received survey licenses or signed power purchase agreements before July 8, 2024.
Only projects directly related to essential services, such as petroleum pipelines, eco-tourism, drinking water, roads and bridges, irrigation, telecommunications, public transport, transmission lines, and healthcare, will be granted environmental approval within conservation and buffer zones, the Cabinet decided.
The meeting also approved the use of national forest land or acquisition of replacement land for such infrastructure.
Additionally, the government granted permission to Science and Technology Secretary Bishwa Babu Pudasaini to participate in an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) program scheduled to take place in Beijing from December 1 to 5.
The Cabinet also approved the retirement of National Planning Commission Secretary Gokarna Mani Duwadi, effective November 26, and accepted the resignation submitted by Under Secretary Prem Kumar Singh of the Nepal Shipping Office.
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