Kathmandu, April 1
Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barsha Man Pun says he will promote investment of Nepali citizens in hydropower projects.
Informing that his predecessors including Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and Janardan Sharma of his own party and Bishnu Paudel of CPN-UML have created foundations to let Nepalis invest in the industry, Pun says he will also follow their path.
“We have been handing over big projects to either China or India or other countries,” he says, “But, this is not right. Now, we need to create an environment in which Nepali citizens can invest their money in hydropower.”
In an interview with Onlinekhabar, he says people who do not have money to buy shares can contribute their labour to the project to acquire shares.
In another context, Pun says he has not yet decided how the hyped Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project is constructed after the previous Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government decided to scrap the contract of China Gezhouba Group and authorised the Nepal Electricity Authority for it.
It is suspected that the current left alliance government might withdraw the decision and give the project back the Chinese company.
“I have joined office just few days ago, and I will work to serve our national interests after consulting the Prime Minister, the party Chairman and other stakeholders.”
