As the country is preparing to resolve political agenda, there is a need to pursue economic agenda, says Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Minister of State for Water Resources.

Speaking at a programme organised to commemorate the inauguration of the 4 MW-strong Khudi Hydropower, Karki said that hydropower and tourism are two most promising sectors for economic development of Nepal.

“Let us not waste any more time,” said Karki.

Likewise, Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, chairman of Khudi Hydropower Limited (KHL) said the National Planning Commission (NPC) needs to upgrade the plans so that Nepal can develop at least 5000 MW power between 2007 and 2017. “This alone will take the GDP to double digit growth,” he said. According to him, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) can develop few thousand megawatts of power on its own, the private sector can add few hundreds and the rest come through foreign investment.

Andre Boularge, chief of distribution of Hydro Quebec, who led a delegation of potential Canadian investors who visited Nepal to study potential areas of investment said that Nepal should keep its vision alive so that it can succeed. Hydro Quebec is the largest hydropower utility in Canada with the generation capacity totaling 40,000 MW.

The KHL has been promoted by Butwal Power Company, SCP Hydro International of Canada and Lamjung Electricity Development Company (LEDCO). It started commercial generation from December, 2006. It was constructed at the cost of Rs 560 million at the record time of 15 months amid conflict in the country. Francois Vitez of SCP Hydro International said that the Canadian company is interested to look into other hydro power projects in Nepal.