Gagan Thapa pledges action against own party workers obstructing energy projects

Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa has expressed his commitment to take action against leaders and workers of his own party who obstruct the construction of hydropower and energy projects. He made the remarks during a dialogue with political parties organized by the Independent Power Producers' Association, Nepal (IPPAN) on Thursday.

Thapa said that if Congress-affiliated local governments or party workers harass entrepreneurs who are operating within the law, complaints can be filed with the party's institutional mechanism, and action will proceed against those found guilty. He said it is his responsibility to ease such problems if complaints reach the party.

He also said it would not be acceptable for elected representatives affiliated with the party to needlessly harass the private sector, stressing that the tendency to pressure projects on the strength of political access must end.

IPPAN officials had recently complained that obstruction of project construction by local levels and party workers had become increasingly serious. Following the complaint, Thapa also raised within Congress the issue of training and empowering local governments.