'Issues of indigenous nationalities in hydel projects should be addressed mutually'

Lalitpur, Jan 2: Minister for Energy Kulman Ghising has said that issues related to the private land, forest area and community's concerns that could surface while advancing the hydropower projects should be resolved through coordination between the local and federal governments.

At a high-level dialogue programme on impacts of hydropower projects on indigenous nationalities community and the resolution organized by the Indigenous Nationalities Commission in Lalitpur on Friday, Minister Ghising said such issues should be addressed through mutual understanding since hydropower is the major basis of the country's economic prosperity.

Minister Ghising noted that land acquisition, use of forest land and impacts on the local community's lifestyle while implementing the hydropower projects were sensitive issues.

He shared that such issues should be addressed as per the guidelines of the donor agencies and added that the government was serious about the social aspect of such projects.

"The issues of the local community and indigenous nationalities should not be neglected. Solution should be sought on the basis of consensus," Ghising viewed.