Kathmandu, December 9:

Ministry of Water Resources today formed a 15-member task force to materialise the national commitment of generating 10,000 MW of hydroelectric energy within ten years.

The 10-year Hydro Power Development Project task force has been formed, under the coordination of former secretary Som Nath Poudel, as per the cabinet decision of December 3.

The task force is entrusted with the responsibility of devising a ten-year national road map and plans — long-term, short-term, mid-term solutions. It has also been assigned the responsibility of recommending policies, legal frameworks and institutional reforms required for the development of the hydropower sector. The task force has got 45 days to submit its report.

Lilanath Bhattarai has been appointed member secretary. Other members include Ratneshwore Lal Kayastha, Dr Govind Nepal, Bala Ram Pradhan, Lekh Man Singh Bhandari, Saroj Upadhyay, Dr Laxmi Prasad Devkota, and Gyanendra Lal Pradhan.