Maoists hindered progress in hydropower: Energy Minister
DHANUSA, FEB 05 - Energy Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat said on Friday that the load-shedding problem will continue in the country for at least the next five years.
Speaking at a press meeting organised by Dhanusha chapter of Press Union, the minister said the government has adopted the policy to minimise the power cut problem.
Minister Mahat alleged that the country failed to make marked progress in the Hydropower sector due to anarchic activities of the Maoists. “Political interference laid off Arun hydropower project, Maoists hindered Upper Karnali hydropower and the UML thwarted Mahakali project,” said the Energy Minister.
The energy minister, who spent most of his time in criticising the Maoists, said the integration of Maoist combatants should be carried out based on their eligibility and the reservations granted to the various ethnic communities.
Refuting the accusation that the High Level Political Mechanism(HLPM) was formed to function as a parallel to the government, Minister Mahat said the mechanism was formed to assist the peace process and statue drafting.
In response to a question by the mediapersons, the minister admitted that the Constituent Assembly (CA)has prioritized the government formation rather than statue drafting. He, however, said the new constitution can be drafted within the stipulated time if all the CA parties work together for the same.
Earlier today, Minister Mahat had inaugurated the Janakpur-Sagarmatha Regional Office of Nepali Electricity Authority at Mujeliya in Janakpur.
Posted on: 2010-02-05 08:11
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