KATHMANDU: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, has directed subordinate bodies to conduct regular monitoring of hydropower projects that have been issued licenses.

During a review meeting at the ministry on Wednesday, the minister instructed staff to develop a robust system to track the progress of these projects.

Minister Shrestha expressed concern that the department’s responsibility currently appears limited to issuing licenses, without adequate oversight of subsequent activities.

He emphasized that license holders must be held accountable for community support programs, corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, and overall regulatory compliance. ‘I found a huge gap where the department’s responsibility is only up to granting licenses. What happens after? Are they doing community support programs? Are they doing CSR? Are they following compliance? Because those who grant the license must carry that responsibility,’ Shrestha said.

The minister instructed Ministry Secretary Dr. Jagadishwar Karmacharya to develop a monitoring mechanism through the Electricity Regulatory Commission. He noted that the ministry is receiving complaints that should have been addressed by the department, necessitating a more active regulatory system. ‘It should be done by being active, including the ERC. Since complaints that should come to the department are coming to the ministry, we must activate the system,’ he added.

Additionally, Minister Shrestha raised concerns regarding the lack of sufficient legal grounds in decision-making files submitted to the ministry. He pointed out that historical files often lack clarity regarding the severity of issues and the context of past events, making it difficult to make informed decisions. He urged officials to provide clear legal justifications and context for all proposals. Furthermore, he directed staff to streamline the decision-making process, instructing that no more than three notes should be included in any single file.