The Government of Nepal has outlined 10 directives aimed at accelerating energy, water resources and irrigation projects following a ministerial-level briefing held at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation on Chaitra 15, 2082 BS. According to a press release issued by the ministry, the programme was chaired by Minister Viraj Bhakta Shrestha and attended by Energy Secretary Chiranjivi Chataut, Water Resources Secretary Sarita Dawadi, joint secretaries, departmental heads and other senior officials. During the meeting, officials presented updates on the ministry’s current performance, priority programmes and projects implemented by subordinate agencies. Following the briefing, the minister instructed officials to strengthen coordination, improve project execution and ensure measurable progress in government programmes.
Among the key directives, the minister instructed officials to provide necessary advice and recommendations for implementing the government’s 100-day action plan and initiate studies on changing patterns of disasters and weather-related risks. He emphasized giving priority to projects in their final stages, particularly those that could be completed quickly, while also directing officials to prepare a clear assessment of irrigation sector progress, targets and affected areas. The ministry was instructed to prioritize irrigation in regions where agricultural production could increase significantly, highlighting the importance of linking irrigation development with agricultural productivity.
The minister also called for an assessment of projects facing technical manpower shortages or budget constraints, including cases where insufficient technical capacity had affected implementation. He directed officials to align the current fiscal year’s budget with productive, high-impact activities and introduce corrective measures where necessary. Priority projects facing land acquisition, compensation or other implementation obstacles must receive immediate attention, with officials instructed to examine delays and take necessary steps to resolve them.
Additionally, the minister instructed departments to accelerate preparations for the upcoming fiscal year’s budget and programmes, identify bottlenecks affecting ongoing projects and prepare action plans to address them. He also encouraged the constructive use of technical expertise and institutional experience available within the ministry to achieve results. The press release, signed by Joint Secretary and Spokesperson Sandeep Kumar Dev, outlines administrative instructions but does not announce new project approvals, additional budget allocations or confirmed completion dates.
