The government has allocated a budget of 86.1 billion under the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation for the financial year 2082/83. Overall, energy self-sufficiency, irrigation infrastructure expansion, hydropower export and alternative energy promotion are the priorities of the budget. The government has set a target of producing 942 megawatts of additional hydropower to bring the country's total installed capacity to 4,800 megawatts.

Also, it is mentioned in the budget that a 732 km double circuit national transmission line will be built. Aiming to achieve significant achievements in the irrigation sector, the government has said that it will provide irrigation facilities on 14,000 hectares of land, while 63 kilometers of embankments will be constructed and 270 hectares of land will be protected from the rising of the river. 

It is mentioned in the budget that the government will confirm the investment pattern and advance the construction process in projects such as Dudhkoshi (670 MW), Lower Seti, Budhigandaki, Upper Arun, Tamor, Kimathanka Arun and other projects with reservoirs for energy security . The government has said that the construction work of Tamakoshi-5, Chainpur Seti, Jagdulla and other projects will be speeded up.

Diplomatic initiatives will be taken with neighboring countries to ensure electricity export and plans such as new Butwal-Gorakhpur, Inruwa-Purnia, Chamelia-Jouljibi etc. plans will be advanced.

The government has allocated 2.33 billion rupees to promote alternative energy (solar, organic, wind), 8.5 billion rupees for expansion of irrigation infrastructure and 5.59 billion rupees for water disaster management.

Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel said that a complete wiring project with electric stoves will be conducted in the major cities of all the seven provinces, while reconstruction of irrigation structures affected by earthquakes or floods will also be done rapidly.

These are the priority areas, where and how much budget?

1. In order to contribute to the country's prosperity, emphasis will be placed on sustainable use of water resources, research and development of the energy sector. Maximum utilization, protection and regulation of water resources will be done in accordance with the River Basin Master Plan. The water level will be measured and digitized for the use and management of underground water resources.

2. The hydropower generation, transmission and distribution system will be managed . Electricity generation will be diversified for energy security. The construction of large projects with reservoirs will be given high priority. Private sector investment in hydropower surveying, production, transmission and distribution will be encouraged.

3. For the energy mix, micro and small hydropower, solar and wind energy will be developed. Different tariffs will be determined based on energy demand and consumption time for industrial and domestic customers.

4. Internal energy consumption will be increased by providing reliable electricity supply. The remaining work of rural electrification will be completed within the next two years.

5. Diplomatic initiatives will be taken with neighboring and other potential countries to ensure the export of electricity based on the increase in energy production. Nepal's presence in the regional electricity market will be strengthened.

6. The feasibility of green hydrogen will be studied in collaboration with universities and the private sector. Domestic and foreign private investment will be attracted to produce green hydrogen.

7. If solar and wind energy are stored in batteries and integrated into the national system, arrangements will be made for electricity purchase contracts similar to reservoir projects.

8. Construction work will be started after the completion of the land acquisition of Dudhkoshi hydropower project with a capacity of 670 megawatts. The lower Seti project located in Tanahun, which has been completed, will be built with government investment. Budhigandaki project will be built in public private partnership. The investment made by the government in this project will be converted into shares. Construction work will be started after determining the investment pattern for the projects including Upper Arun, Kimathanka Arun, Nalgad, Phukot Karnali, Uttarganga, Tamor, Mugu Karnali, Sunkoshi-3.

9. The construction work of Tamakoshi-5 project will be accelerated . The construction of 210 MW Chainpur Seti and 50,106 MW Jagdulla hydropower projects will be started within the next financial year. Karnali Chisapani multi-purpose project will be completed after the detailed engineering design and the investment framework will be decided.

10. Under the People's Hydropower Program, projects with high return potential will be constructed under the management of Nepal Electricity Authority and with the support of interested Nepali citizens. After completing the DPR of the Pancheshwar multi-purpose project, priority will be taken to proceed with the construction work.

11. The sub station and transmission line will be constructed in accordance with the schedule of completion of the hydropower project. A policy of electricity purchase agreement will be taken so that the balance between electricity generation and consumption is maintained. Power purchase agreement will be made in accordance with the take and pay concept of the Run of River project.

12. If the distribution line from the national transmission system to the industrial site is constructed by the industry itself, provision will be made to charge the healing charge . The work of undergrounding electricity distribution lines in dense urban areas will be accelerated.

13. The construction of national and international transmission lines of Khimti-Bahrvise-Lapsiphedi, New Wutwal-Gorakhpur, Dododhara-Bareli 400 KV and Chilime-Kerung 220 KV capacity will be advanced . Construction of Inruwa-Purnia 400 KV and Chamelia-Jouljib 220 KV transmission lines will be completed and construction will be started . The construction of Kohalpur-Surkhet-Jumla 132 kV transmission line will be completed within two years for regular power supply in Karnali province.

More inland transmission lines will be built based on energy export potential . For transmission line extension and distribution project Rs. 13.18 billion has been allocated.

14. Uninterrupted, sufficient and reliable electricity service will be provided in places with high demand for electricity including industrial areas. An arrangement has been made to give more concessions in the tariff rate to the manufacturing industry that consumes more than a certain unit at the time of low electricity demand .

15. The use of household appliances including electric stoves will be promoted to increase consumption of clean and renewable energy by replacing conventional energy and LP gas. Complete wiring pilot project will be conducted in seven cities of seven provinces to meet household energy needs through electricity.

16. Notification of interruption of power supply will be automatically received at the distribution center and arrangements will be made for immediate repair . Electricity leakage will be minimised.

17. Arrangements will be made to sell the electricity generated from the multi-purpose project to be built with the investment of the Government of Nepal and deposit it in the government treasury. The amount received from the sale of the electricity produced by the Ranijamara Kularia project and the electricity produced by the Bheri-Babai and Sunkoshi-Marin projects will be deposited in the treasury of the Government of Nepal.

18. Carbon emissions will be reduced by increasing production and consumption of alternative energy. Private sector investment will be attracted in solar, biological and wind energy. Towards Alternative Energy Rs. 2 billion 33 crore has been allocated .

19. Irrigation infrastructure will be developed to expand the irrigated area in arable land. The headworks, canals, tunnels, powerhouses and distribution systems of the multi-purpose project will be constructed simultaneously.

20. Babai, Rani Jamra Kularia, Mahakali, Praganna-Badkapath irrigation projects will be completed within the next three years . The construction of Sikta and Greater Dang Valley irrigation projects will be accelerated . For this Rs. I have allocated 8 billion 50 crores. To complete the headworks and powerhouse construction of the Bheri-Babai diversion project within two years, Rs. 2.7 billion has been allocated.

21. Rs. 1 billion 82 crore has been allocated .

22. The construction work of Sunkoshi-Marine Diversion Project will be accelerated . Irrigation facilities will be extended to 122,000 hectares of agricultural land in Wara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari and Dhanusha districts by using additional water from the Sunkoshi-Marin diversion project by upgrading the Bagmati irrigation project. 2 billion 73 crores have been allocated for this.

23. In the next five years, lift irrigation facilities will be extended to arable tars in hilly and mountainous areas and reliable irrigation facilities will be provided to 468,000 hectares. Under construction projects will be completed to provide underground water irrigation facility in Tarai and interior Madhesh. For this Rs. 3 billion 31 crore has been allocated.

24. Construction work will be started after ensuring investment for Naumure multi-purpose project . After completing a detailed study of the Kaligandaki-Tinau river diversion project, the construction pattern will be determined. Study and preparation of Tamor-Chisyang, Sunkoshi-Tawa, Trishuli-Lothar, Madi-Dang and Gwarakhola multipurpose projects will be accelerated. For this Rs. 37 crore has been allocated .

25. A quality and reliable weather information system will be developed. Appropriate technology will be used for water disaster management and early information system will be adopted.

26. River control programs will be conducted in Mahakali, Karnali, Narayani, Koshi and other big rivers to manage the risk of river erosion, flooding and landslides. The reconstruction of the irrigation system will be accelerated in the areas affected by monsoon disasters and earthquakes. For this Rs. 5 billion 59 crore has been allocated .

27. An additional 942 megawatts of electricity will be produced from the hydroelectric project to be completed in the financial year 2082/83, bringing the total installed capacity to 4,548,000 megawatts. Similarly, 732 km dual circuit national transmission line will be constructed.