The government has decided to amend laws in line with the Supreme Court's ruling on infrastructure construction in protected zones, including national parks, reserves, and conservation areas.

A meeting of stakeholders at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Wednesday resolved to revise legal provisions that obstruct the simultaneous progress of environmental conservation and development.

Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Deepak Khadka stated that the Supreme Court’s decision poses challenges to the government’s energy development objectives. He emphasized the need to amend the laws to align with national interests, particularly concerning transmission lines for ongoing projects.

Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya suggested holding discussions with judges regarding the court's decision. He highlighted that laws related to energy, tourism, and irrigation—key sectors for economic growth—could be revised to remove existing obstacles.

Minister for Forests and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi assured that his ministry is actively working to resolve issues affecting the forestry sector.

Chief Secretary Eaknarayan Aryal warned that such court rulings could significantly impact development and construction, especially as the government aims to generate 28,500 megawatts of electricity within a decade and export 15,000 megawatts to neighboring countries.

To facilitate development, the government will amend the National Parks Act, Forest Act, Environment Protection Act, and other relevant laws as soon as possible. The meeting instructed the Ministry of Forests to identify necessary amendments and submit them to the Council of Ministers for approval. -- RSS