SC Refusal to Halt Langtang Hydropower Project Raises Hopes for Infrastructure in Protected Areas

The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition seeking to halt the construction of a hydropower project inside Langtang National Park, raising expectations among developers that the ruling could pave the way for other projects within protected areas.

However, legal experts and stakeholders say it is still unclear what practical impact the decision will have, given that the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench had already issued a ruling last January restricting the development of national-priority projects inside protected areas if they obstruct conservation objectives.

Petitioners including Sumpa Tamang and others had filed the writ on May 10, 2022 seeking to stop the construction of the 30 MW Langtang Khola Hydropower Project being developed by Multi Energy Development Pvt Ltd since 2016. A division bench of Justices Tek Prasad Dhungana and Shanti Singh Thapa dismissed the petition on November 19.

Deputy spokesperson for the Supreme Court Nirajan Pandey said the writ was dismissed after the final hearing, and the full text of the verdict is yet to be published.

Earlier, during the preliminary hearing on June 7, 2022, the court had refused to issue an interim order to halt the project.

Independent Power Producers’ Association Nepal (IPPAN) President Ganesh Karki welcomed the decision, saying it would help remove uncertainties surrounding hydropower development within protected areas. According to him, the ruling dispels the “misconception” that hydropower projects cannot be built inside national parks.

He said the verdict is likely to help stalled or delayed projects move forward and marks an important moment for responsible infrastructure development. “Hydropower generation is compatible with conservation, and essential infrastructure should be allowed with proper safeguards. It now appears that hydropower projects inside national parks can proceed,” Karki said.

Karki added that the decision may also have implications for transmission line development and signals a positive outlook for hydropower and associated infrastructure. He said the ruling could encourage environmentally responsible development and create a clearer path for other projects located within national parks.