Civil Insight: A Technical Magazine Volume 2 | Page 60

60 INTERVIEW CIVIL INSIGHT 2018 AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. SUBARNA DAS SHRESTHA Dr. Subarna Das Shrestha is currently the CEO of Sanima Mai Hydropower Limited. He has also served as the President of IPPAN and the Managing Director of Swet Ganga Hydropower and Construction and hence has involved himself in the development of many hydropower projects in Nepal. He was awarded with Doctor of Philosophy in Technical Sciences (Hydro-technical and Land Reclamation Construction) in 1998. Dr. Shrestha also holds M. Sc. (Hydraulic structures and hydroelectric power plant), 1991 from Moscow Institute of Hydro-technical Engineering and Land Reclamation. The Editorial Team of Civil Insight got to learn more about the hydropower scenario in Nepal though this prominent personality. Q. Would you share some of your journey in Sanima Hydropower so far with us? What were the biggest challenges you have faced? Sanima Hydropower Limited was established in March 1999 by a few recent engineering graduates from Russia with a vision of hydropower as a prospect for Nepal. The Government of Nepal had just granted private fi rms the right to enter Nepal’s hydropower sector. When we fi rst arrived in the hydropower scene of Nepal, there were many challenges. There were no policies back then. Even today, after major socio-economic and political changes in the country, an obscure “Hydropower Development Policy, 2049 B.S” still governs hydropower projects. This policy is archaic and unsuitable for current prospects of hydropower in Nepal. For a hydropower to be built in a district in Nepal, we must get a construction approval from concerned government body. Before federalization, it was easy as only one government body (District Development Committee) presided over the proceedings. However, after federalization there is no delimitation of local, state, and federal authorities on resources. During the year 1999, there were some issues about license too.