KATHMANDU, Jan 22: CPN (Maoist Center) lawmaker Madhav Sapkota has accused Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Deepak Khadka and Minister of State for Energy Purna Bahadur Tamang of adopting “dacoity style”.
Speaking at the Infrastructure Development Committee meeting held at Singha Durbar on Wednesday, Sapkota accused the minister and the minister of state of making decisions in a “dacoity style” by violating the rules in the 454 MW Kimathanka Arun project.
He objected to Minister Khadka's decision to select only one company after forcing seven other competing companies to withdraw from the Jagdulla Hydropower project.
Construction process of semi-reservoir Kimathanka Arun Hydropow...
He also alleged that rules were violated in the 102 MW Mugu Karnali Hydropower Project.
He said that it is an insult to the country for the minister to set up an office in the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) in retaliation against Kulman Ghising, the managing director of the NEA.
He said that the committee should hold the government and the minister accountable. “The minister called eight competing construction companies to his office and instructed the CEO of Jagadulla Hydropower to ensure only one company qualified, while the others were asked to withdraw. This was similar to his actions with the 102 MW Mugu Karnali and 454 MW Kimathanka Arun Hydroelectric projects, where he attempted to make decisions in a 'dacoity-style' by breaking the rules. After widespread pressure, those projects were canceled. Meanwhile, the minister tried to shift blame onto Ghising while setting up a new office for himself at the NEA. While all this was ongoing, the committee tried to make the minister accountable but he went against the rules, while the ministry leadership applied undue pressure on the 102 MW Bhotekoshi power project in Sindhupalchowk, violating regulations,” he said.
MP Sapkota objected to the committee meeting being called at a hotel without any discussion or consultation.
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