Political parties, private sector join hands for hydro development

Chairman of the interim election government, political party leaders and FNCCI president raising hands in a sign of solidarity to push for hydropower,

KATHMANDU, April 10: The government, major political parties and the private sector have jointly expressed commitment to take forward hydropower development in the country without any hindrance.
The commitment was made during the opening session of the 47th annual general meeting of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), the largest umbrella body of the private sector, on Wednesday.
In a show of allegiance to the cause, a 19-point agreement on executing hydropower development activities without strikes and extortions was also signed by government representatives, major political parties and the private sector.
The agreement was signed by Khil Raj Regmi, the chairman of the Council of Ministers, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal, Madhesi People´s Rights Forum President Upendra Yadav, Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic President Bijaya Gachchhadar, Rastriya Janashakti Party President Surya Bahadur Thapa and FNCCI President Suraj Vaidya.
Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala, who couldn´t attend the event due to his party´s ongoing general-committee meeting, sent a message expressing Nepali Congress´ solidarity to the hydropower development agenda proposed by the FNCCI.
Similarly, Terai Madhes Democratic Party President Mahantha Thakur also sent a message of solidarity to the FNCCI.
However, representatives of Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist, which has been protesting construction of mega hydropower projects in the country, were not present on the occasion.
Addressing the AGM´s inaugural session, Dahal said the agenda the FNCCI had put forward was meaningful at this phase of the country´s development. “The agenda raised by the private sector is important,” he said at the event organized with a slogan ´Change for Development Starts Now´
Congratulating the FNCCI for taking the initiative to bring major political parties on a common platform, Dahal further said that people should pursue for political stability and development. “It´s people who correct political parties at times when they derail from the track,” he said.
Expressing commitment to work hard within the party and outside it to ensure implementation of the agreement, CPN-UML Chairman Khanal said economic development was the need of the day.
“This agreement among political parties and the private sector will help the country to achieve industrial growth in the near future,” he said. “We have to learn from our neighbors, China and India, and move forward.”
Similarly, top leaders, including Gachchhadhar and Yadav, expressed their commitments to implement the agreement. “The proposed agendas for hydropower development are significant at the moment,” Yadav said.
Welcoming political parties´ commitment to develop the country´s hydropower sector, FNCCI President Vaidya said energy generation has become the most pressing issue of the day. “This is the time to change things and work hard for economic growth,” Vaidya said. “I request all political parties and leaders to understand the country´s need and not interrupt ongoing economic development activities in the country.”

Source : Republica