Kathmandu: The government has established a committee to oversee and coordinate infrastructure development issues in areas impacted by the Melamchi Water Supply Project. This decision emerged from a Cabinet meeting held on November 24, where it was resolved to form the committee under the leadership of a Secretary from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Jagadish Kharel, revealed that the Cabinet also decided to grant pre-approval for an organizational and management survey of the Nepal Police. Additionally, 37 temporary officer-level positions were approved for projects and programs to be managed by the Ministry of Forests and Environment in the current fiscal year.
The meeting also focused on environmental consent processes. It was decided to advance the environmental study consent for power projects that already possess a survey license and those hydropower projects with signed power purchase agreements before July 8, 2024, located within conservation areas or buffer zones.
Furthermore, the Cabinet agreed to the environmental assessment for infrastructure projects such as pipelines, drinking water systems, roads, bridges, public transport, and power transmission lines directly affecting residents within protected areas. The government is set to either allocate land from the national forest or acquire substitute land for these infrastructure endeavors.
Additionally, permission was granted to Secretary (Science and Technology), Bishwo Babu Pudasaini, to attend a program related to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Beijing, China, from December 1-5. The meeting also approved the resignation of Gokarna Mani Duwadi, Secretary of the National Planning Commission, effective November 26, alongside the resignation of Prem Kumar Singh, Joint-Secretary of the Nepal Shipping Office.