Apropos of the news story “Hydro license to be revoked if construction of project delayed” (THT, April 16, Page 9), the minister’s decision to revoke hydro licenses if projects are not started on schedule as per the commitment are praiseworthy.

But, most importantly, it would be wise to do a background check on hydro “investors” to gauge their financial and physical ability to decide if they are qualified to take on as grave a responsibility as harnessing hydropower from difficult terrain. It is a Herculean task given the huge amount of money and extended period of time.

While doing the background check, it is important to see if the investors will/can manage resources needed for a hydel project. It is common knowledge that party men or “industrialists” with party connection procure hydro licenses and start peddling them to national and international investors for partnership. In many cases, a cursory look at the countenance of the hydro licensees is enough to establish their capacity.

Rather than revoking the licenses of those that could not start the project because of, for example, earthquake or border blockade or the local hoodlums, it would be better to put a time validity of one or two more years after which the license will automatically expire.

The countdown of the project should start from the day the license holder starts construction after reaching PPA with the Nepal Electricity Authority. However, the NEA should also fulfil its written agreement made with the hydropower developers on time. Some private developers have failed to evacuate power even after completion of projects as the NEA did not build transmission lines on time.

Manohar Shrestha, Kathmandu

Unification

Apropos of the news story “UML, CPN-MC likely to miss unity deadline” (THT, April 16, Page 1), the much-awaited unity between the CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre has been postponed time and again which has, in fact, invisibly impacted the national politics and even the day-to- day administration of the government.

It has already been two months since KP Sharma Oli took the helm of government for a second time after the Left alliance got almost a two-thirds majority in the Lower House.

The possibility of forming a single Communist Party still remains in limbo. The delay in party unification has not only created uncertainty of the government but has also raised questions over people’s mandate, which has given the alliance to run the government for full five years. The Oli-led government has to come up with sound policies and programmes to speed up economic growth by better utilising the resources and bringing in more foreign direct investment in productive sectors.

Party unification between the UML and Maoist Centre is the need of the hour as this will ensure a stable government, which will be able to deliver services in all provinces and expedite development work without any hindrance and delay.

Bhuvan Dharel, Kathmandu