Environment and Energy Ministries Meet to Streamline Hydropower Project Clearances

Kathmandu. A coordination meeting was held today between the Ministry of Forest and Environment and the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation. The meeting was attended by Forest Minister Madhav Prasad Chaulagai and Energy Minister Anil Kumar Sinha, along with secretaries, department heads, and senior officials from both ministries.

The meeting involved a detailed discussion on issues stalled due to land use rights within forest areas, approval processes, and procedural complexities related to energy and hydropower projects.

The discussion was particularly focused on how to facilitate projects delayed due to the lack of coordination between various bodies concerning forest use permits and environmental clearances.

Representatives from the Nepal Electricity Authority and the Department of Electricity Development also participated in the meeting. Participants presented their respective views on the legal, administrative, and technical obstacles encountered during project implementation.

During the discussion, it was agreed to strengthen mutual coordination to remove obstacles in the implementation of hydropower and energy projects while maintaining the necessary balance between environmental protection and energy development.

The meeting concluded by prioritizing environmentally friendly development and making relevant processes more streamlined and effective. Both ministries expressed their commitment to further strengthening collaboration to solve problems of stalled projects through a regular coordination mechanism, thereby achieving sustainable energy development, environmental conservation, and national development goals.