She has also directed the Ministries of Energy and Finance to expedite the process in this regard.
Prime Minister Sushila Karki has said that the government is committed to speeding up the work of the Budhigandaki Hydropower Project. She said that a company has been established for the construction of the Budhigandaki Hydropower Project and necessary procedures will be taken to ensure that the additional tax levied on the said petroleum products is also transferred to the account every year.
She has also directed the Ministry of Energy and Finance to expedite the process in this regard. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Karki also discussed the issue with former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, some former people's representatives from the project-affected areas of Gorkha and Dhading, and local stakeholders.
In the process, former Prime Minister Bhattarai expressed happiness over the government's readiness to move forward with the Budhigandaki project and suggested the formation of a separate authority to develop it into a multi-purpose project, not just a power project.
Finance Minister Rameshwor Khanal and other officials from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers also participated in the discussion.
The cost of this 1,200 MW hydropower project was estimated at 255 billion in 2079 BS. Now, this cost is estimated to exceed 400 billion.
The Nepalese government has already acquired the land and paid compensation of 42 billion rupees to local landowners. It is estimated that it will take at least 8 years to complete the construction of this project, which is located between big cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan.
