Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Minister Shrestha assures security for MCC project implementation

Kathmandu, May 20

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, has assured the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) for the necessary support from his ministry and chief district officers of various districts along the proposed cross-border transmission line to be developed with its support in order to ensure successful implementation and timely completion of the project.

In a meeting with Jonathan Brooks, Deputy Vice-President of Europe, Asia, Pacific, and Latin America programmes for the Department of Compact Operations, on Saturday, DPM Shrestha pledged all possible support to expedite the mega project that includes a cross-country transmission line and road maintenance.

The US$ 630 million, $500 million from the MCC and $130 million from Nepal–programme, aims at developing large transmission lines, including Butwal-Gorakhpur cross-border transmission facility, and rehabilitate strategic roads. The Electricity Transmission Project will build 312 km of 400 kV electricity transmission lines and three substations and provide technical assistance for the power sector in Nepal.

Likewise, the Road Maintenance Project aims to enhance current practices in the maintenance of Nepal’s strategic road network and will provide technical assistance to the Department of Roads (DoR) and Roads Board Nepal.

The projects are being implemented by the Millennium Challenge Account–Nepal, an agency formed by the Government of Nepal.

According to Govinda Bhattarai, Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), who was also present at the meeting, informed that DPM Shrestha told the delegation of the project that there would be sufficient and necessary support from the MoHA to complete the MCC project on time.

Brooks is on a visit to Nepal to get the updates of the projects and sort out the constraints it is facing in course of implementation.  

Bhattarai said that in the meeting, Brooks sought assistance from the ministry in the acquisition, security and coordination of land required for the MCC project.

He asked for assistance from the MoHA in the areas of land acquisition, security and coordination to be provided for the future activities of the project where the involvement of the chief district officer is needed. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 21 May 2023. 

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