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.