Altogether 14 hydropower projects, including the Upper Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project (45 MW), with combined capacity of 80 MW have been shut down after they suffered damages in the recent earthquake.IPPAN has accused the government of overlooking suggestions made in the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) for rehabilitation of hydropower projects.
Khadga Bahadur Bisht, president of IPPAN, said in a press release issued on Monday that the budget, which includes package worth Rs 45 billion for government-run projects, is silent on damages suffered by projects promoted by independent power developers.
IPPAN has also said that the budget doesn't mention about grants of Rs 5 million per MW for hydropower projects coming into generation by 2022/23 announced in the budget for last fiscal year. He also demanded that the government pay the grant amount for projects qualified for the scheme.
IPPAN, however, has welcomed the announcement to restructure state-owned Hydropower Investment Development Company Limited. Bisht also added that the budget is silent on number of legal reforms like amendments to Electricity Act and Electricity Regulatory Commission Act.
Bisht also said the private sector was also expecting some policy measures to boost confidence of investors whose projects suffered major damage in the earthquake.
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