KATHMANDU, APRIL 2

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has pledged to implement the Budhigandaki Hydropower Project, a national pride project.

He said the government had been already given a full shape and he would be sitting for discussions with the bodies concerned including the Minister for Energy and Water Resources in view of taking the project ahead.

During a meeting with a delegation led by Gandaki rural municipality Chair, Deepak Timilsina, at the PM's official residence Baluwatar today, the Prime Minister promised to clearly state about the projects in the upcoming budget.

The Prime Minister who is also the CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair said the party had already made its stand clear in the party's election manifesto for the November 20 elections and the parties in the ruling alliance had a clearer vision about it, urging the delegation not to doubt over the government's approach to it.

Though the government has already established a company to implement the 1200 MW- project, there is no substantive progress so far.

Following the meeting with the Prime Minister, the local representatives said they were assured that the project would be implemented. 'The Prime Minister promised to come up with clear work plan to implement the Budhigandaki Hydropower Project.'

The detailed project report of the Budhigandaki was prepared in 2014 by a French company.