KATHMANDU: Minister for Finance Gyanendra Bahadur Karki on Saturday said that the government would move ahead with the construction work of the Arun-III hydropower project.

Stating that the project is related to the country’s prosperity, Minister Karki said that the government was committed to constructing the Arun-III project soon.

Speaking at a programme organised in his honour in the Capital today, he explained that billions of investment would come to the country after the beginning the project. “The government will give momentum to the project which is an important one for regional and balanced development.”

The project of 900 megawatt capacity, which is located in the border area of Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur districts, is expected to incur Rs 104 billion.

Similarly, Minister for Commerce Min Bahadur Bishwakarma also pledged his commitment to the development of his ancestral home district, Bhojpur.

Minister Bishwakarma lso said that quality production, processing and marketing of Rudrakshya in Bhojpur would be ensured for its international trade.

Meanwhile, former Finance Minister Shanker Prasad Koirala, student leader Umesh Jung Rayamajhi, Mayor of Shadananda Municipality Bir Bal Rai, Chairman of Liaison Committee Kedar Karki and others too expressed their opinions at the programme.