Alternate energy the only option: Chief Minister Shahi

Surkhet – Karnali's Chief Minister Mahendra Bahadur Shahi on Thursday termed alternate energy the only option for resolving the energy crisis faced by the Karnali province. 

Chief Minister Shahi made the remark at an interaction 'Provincial Government's Role in Renewable Energy Promotion' held by the Alternate Energy Promotion Centre, Kathmandu at Birendranagar, Surkhet. 

On the occasion, Shahi said alternate energy can be the only option until the development of larger hydro power projects in the province. 

He urged the Centre to promote alternative energy's special programmes in different parts of Karnali untouched by the network of national electric transmission. 

"Karnali is a province capable of producing 23,000 megawatts of electric energy, despite which the development of mega projects is not immediately possible for it," the Chief Minister added. 

Shahi also pledged the provincial government's readiness to invest in resolving the problems faced by the people through using the alternate energy. He also appealed to the Centre to build one – megawatt solar plant in Surkhet, the provincial capital. 

During the programme, Karnali Provincial Assembly Speaker Raj Bahadur Shahi, Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Jivan Bahadur Shahi, former minister and lawmaker Yamlal Kandel and Alternate Energy Promotion Centre's Executive Director Ram Prasad Dhital said from among the seven provinces in the country, Karnali should particularly press for energy development. 
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