KATHMANDU, July 20: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal asserted on Wednesday that the government is resolute in its commitment to building the Budhigandaki Hydropower Project (BGHP).
Despite facing delays in its construction, Prime Minister Dahal reassured that the project would be completed at all costs. Inaugurating the BGHP's field office in Siurenitar of Gorkha district, he expressed his unwavering dedication to its realization.
PM Dahal urged the concerned officials to prioritize the project's advancement, highlighting its elevated status in the government's Policy and Program for the year.
Govt moves to award Budhigandaki Project to Chinese firm
According to official records, the majority of compensation distribution for land acquisition has been completed, and the detailed project report has been prepared.
Dahal said that preliminary works, including the feasibility study, have been finalized, and the government has initiated efforts to secure the necessary investments for the project's development.
To undertake the national pride project, the government established the Budhigandaki Hydroelectric Company with an authorized capital of Rs 60 billion.
Furthermore, the government has already disbursed Rs 34.3 billion as compensation for land acquisition related to the project, with the distribution process nearing completion. Approximately 50,000 people in Dhading and Gorkha districts will be affected by the construction, which envisions a 263-meter high dam.
The detailed project report for the BGHP was prepared by the France-based Tractebel Engineering in 2014. In a cabinet meeting on April 7, 2022, it was decided to proceed with domestic investment and revoke the license awarded to the Chinese company- China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC).
The storage project is set to be located in Dhading and Gorkha districts and will boast a total installed capacity of 1,200 megawatts.
