No power cuts during Saarc Summit: Energy Minister

KATHMANDU, NOV 19 - Energy Minister Radha Gyawali has said the places to be visited by the heads of government and state, taking part in the Saarc summit, will be made load-shedding free. She declared that Janakpur, Lumbini, Muktinath and Dhulikhel will be free of load shedding during the Saarc Summit. Speaking at a programme organised by Reporters Club in the Capital on Wednesday, Minister Gyawali said the government has asked for 500 MW of electricity from India of which 170 MW is being imported. Minister Gyawali also claimed that the general public would not have to face longer hours of power-cut during this winter. She further informed that electricity is being imported from India and the ministry is working on completing and aiding the ongoing projects including the Budi Gandakia and Narsinghgad projects for the same. Minister Gyawali further informed about the plan of signing PDA for the Arun III, moving ahead with the construction of Upper Karnali and the investment of World Bank on solar energy. Saying that the recent programme of Saarc Power Centre concluded that the energy deficit in the Saarc region could be resolved through electricity produced in Nepal, the Minister for Energy clarified that energy development and energy trade will be the main agenda at the Saarc summit..according to ekantipure.com