Kathmandu. Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka, has said that big power and irrigation projects should be taken forward so that the progress of work can be seen.

At a meeting of the Annual Progress Review and Ministry-level Development Problem Resolution Committee held at the Ministry of Energy today, he stressed the need to take forward the big projects so that the progress of the works can be seen when there is a strong government.

Minister Khadka said, “Progress can be achieved if we work responsibly on the basis of past learning. He stressed the need for developing the energy sector in coordination with the inter-agency as energy is the mainstay of the country’s economy.

Energy Minister Khadka expressed the belief that the country would develop quickly if the capital stored in the bank could be invested in the energy development sector. “On the one hand, money is lying in the bank, on the other hand, foreigners are eager to invest, but why could we not take it forward,” he said.

Minister Khadka said that the government was trying to move ahead by giving special priority to reservoir-based projects to meet the shortage of electricity in the snow.

National Planning Commission member Prof Dr RP Bichha pointed out the shortcomings in the past and stressed the need for the development of energy and irrigation sectors in the coming days. He said that an annual policy and programme related to the 16th five-year plan should be formulated for the development of energy and irrigation sectors.

Water Resources and Irrigation Secretary Sarita Dawadi said that although the Ministry of Finance and the National Planning Commission have received good support to take the project forward, the delay in the construction of the project has been due to the problem of forest and land acquisition.

Secretary at the Secretariat of the Water and Energy Commission, Dinanath Mishra, said that the budget could not be spent and progress was low. A representative of the Ministry of Finance said that the Ministry of Finance has always been positive in allocating necessary budget for the development of energy and water resources sector.

Director General of The Department of Power Development Jivchha Mandal, Director General of the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation Mitra Baral, Executive Director of Alternative Energy Promotion Center Nawaraj Dhakal and chief executive officers of various companies briefed about the problems faced during the construction of the project.