Kathmandu: The Supreme Court has issued an interim order in the name of the government not to implement the decision of the Council of Ministers to allow power generation in the core area of ​​the national park and reserve.

A single bench of Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut has issued an interim order in the name of the government not to implement the decision of the Council of Ministers to amend Article 5 and add Article 15 of the Strategy on Construction and Operation of Physical Infrastructure in the Protected Area.

Advocate Bijnan Singh Bista had filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court seeking reversal of the decision. The order states that allowing such electricity to be generated within the park and reserve would be against the National Parks Act and would affect the sensitivity of wildlife conservation.

The then Minister of Forest and Environment, Prem Bahadur Ale, had amended the strategy of the Council of Ministers to allow Yati World Investment Company Pvt. Ltd. to generate electricity in the inner part of Lantang National Park.

The policy was amended to allow the construction of mega hydropower projects within the parks and reserves and to release 10 percent of water in the natural flow when rivers and streams are closed to generate electricity.

Thus, the process was started to generate 310 MW capacity (Lantangkhola Reservoir) from Syaphru, Briddhim, Timure and Lantang within the Lantang National Park. The place he proposed is a place suitable for biodiversity and wildlife.

interim order issued by Supreme Court: