KATHMANDU, July 23: After a seven-year-long endeavor, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the ambitious 417 MW Nalgad Hydropower Project has been successfully prepared. 

This was achieved through the collaborative efforts of Australian companies Smack and MWH, along with Udaya JV from Nepal. The DPR, initially allocated a timeframe of 31 months in 2073 BS, encountered delays, leading to multiple extensions of the deadline.

Project Director Sunil Paudel disclosed that due to the work's time overrun, the DPR was finalized after granting several deadline extensions. Presently, the project has progressed to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) phase.

The Ministry of Energy has sent the relevant file to the Ministry of Forests and Environment for the necessary approvals on the EIA. Upon receiving the green light for the EIA, the project construction process will be poised to move forward. Notably, the Japanese Cooperation Agency (JICA) has expressed its readiness to invest in the project. Discussions for the agreement with JICA are already underway and progressing positively.

Approximately 123 billion rupees are estimated to be invested in the construction of the Nalgad Hydropower Project. The goal is to complete this ambitious undertaking within six and a half years from the commencement of construction.