Lawmakers ask Energy Minister about plans to replace wooden poles

Kathmandu–The lawmakers at today's meeting of the House of Representatives have asked Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barsha Man Pun about the plans that the ministry of energy has unveiled for complete electrification, modernization of the transmission system and other related issues.

In today's question and answer session with the minister, the lawmakers put forth their questions while Minister Pun responded to them saying that the government is planning to replace all 300,000 wooden poles used for transmitting power. As per the scheme to replace all those wooden poles, 30,000 poles have been replaced in this year alone.

Remaining other wooden poles would be replaced with the coordination of the state governments, Pun made it clear. Minister Pun was of the view that the process to make the electric wires underground in the town has already started while adding that 88 percent households have been electrified and the rate will reach 100 percent in coming two years. Lawmakers Khagaraj Adhikari, Pushpa Bhusal, Mahesh Basnet, Sarita Giri, Rangamati Shahi, Prem Suwal, Dila Sangraula (Panta) and others had thrown their questions at the House meeting.

The other questions raised by the lawmakers were about the Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project, FDI in Budhi Gandaki Project, development of West Seti Project and others.

On different note, Minister Pun sad that the government has targeted to ensure irrigation facility in 90 per cent arable land in the 15th periodic plan.