Kathmandu, Aug 1: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Deepak Khadka has held consultations with the former secretaries for the development of the energy, water resources and irrigation sectors.
Minister Khadka held discussions Wednesday with the former secretaries at the Ministry, focusing on the Ministry’s existing situation and the future plan of action.
On the occasion, the Minister said that the Ministry will move ahead by collecting during the discussions the experiences of the former secretaries and incorporating the same in the future action plan.
“You have gathered rich experience working in the energy, water resources and irrigation sector of Nepal. Your experience will supportive to the Ministry in formulating its future action plan,” he said, adding that the Ministry will move ahead amending the Acts, Regulations, work procedures and rules that are incompatible for the development of energy and irrigation.
Former Secretary Dinesh Ghimire suggested developing the energy sector aiming to increase the domestic consumption. According to him, Nepal would make a big leap in the energy sector in short time if investment could be mobilized in the reservoir-type projects.
Former Secretary Anup Upadhyay stressed on creating investment-friendly environment for the development of energy sector. He said the quicker the projects are completed the more the country would be benefited.
Former Secretary Sushil Chandra Tiwari urged the government to accord special priority to the irrigation sector. He called on the Ministry, under which seven national pride projects are being implemented, to complete these projects at the earliest possible.
Former Secretary Sagar Kumar Rai urged the Ministry to put water resources conservation on the top of its priority. According to him, although the irrigation projects are constructed investing billions of rupees, problems are encountered in their repair and maintenance due to not collecting the service charge.
Attending the meeting were high officials of the Ministry including the secretary looking after energy Gopal Prasad Sigdel, the secretary looking after water resources and irrigation Sarita Dawadi and the Joint-Secretaries, Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Kulman Ghising, and the director-generals of the various Departments under the Ministry.
