The government has collected Rs 3.15bn plus in royalty from different hydropower projects that are in operation.

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been collecting the royalty amount on a regular basis as it keeps the royalty amount while paying the power developers for using their power. 

Likewise, the Electricity Development Department has asked some power developers to deposit the royalty amount as they were yet to clear their dues till the fiscal year 2022/23, Department’s Director General Chiranjivi Chataut said.

The projects failing to clear their dues would be charged by writing to the NEA. As per the provision, the royalty amount would be provided to the affected communities at the local level. 

The Department has collected Rs 1.15bn from license fees, Rs 8.7m from penalty and confiscation and Rs 4.2m from arrear. The Department collected Rs 4.31bn plus in revenue in the fiscal year 2022/23. 

Likewise, the Department has collected Rs 595.5m in royalty till the first six months of the current fiscal year while the amount from licensing is Rs 162.4m.