November 25: Sixteen hydropower projects have obtained construction and power generation licenses from the Department of Electricity Development in the first four months of the current Fiscal Year 2077/78.

According to the Department, 16 hydropower projects with capacity of more than 1 MW have been given permission for construction and generation of electricity. The total capacity of these projects is 379.51 MW.

Moreover, the license period of these projects is 35 years, ie till 2112 BS. After that, the projects will be owned by the Government of Nepal.

In the corresponding period last year, only six projects had obtained construction permits. However, the number of projects that received the construction permits has increased in the current fiscal year.

The department said that the number of projects receiving construction and power generation permits has increased due to the fast-track approach of the government. A senior official of the department informed that the applications for the license through fast track will not remain pending like before. He said that now the promoter companies have started getting licenses in a short time.

The biggest project to get construction permit is Tamor Mewa Hydropower Project. The project to be built in Taplejung has been allowed to generate 128 MW of electricity. Similarly, the second largest project is 86.59 MW Landruk and the third is 70 MW Dudhkoshi-2 Hydropower Project.

Among the projects that have been given permit for construction are 14.7 MW Mudi Khola, 13.42 MW Midim and 11.05 MW Sunigadh Hydropower Project. Other 10 projects have a capacity of less than 10 MW.