CLIMATE · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
Nepal's Government Issues Hydropower Permits in Protected Areas Despite Court Ruling
WHY IT MATTERS
This development raises concerns about Nepal's commitment to environmental protection and its adherence to international agreements, potentially impacting the country's natural resources and ecosystems.
What happened
Nepal's government has issued permits for private hydropower projects inside protected areas, contradicting a Supreme Court order from January 2025. The court declared a 2024 amendment to the conservation law invalid, citing constitutional and environmental concerns.
However, the government has interpreted the law and issued permits, sparking controversy. Senior lawyer Prakash Mani Sharma Bhusal called this a 'misinterpretation of the court verdict.
' The court's decision was in response to a petition filed by lawyers who argued that the amendment violated Nepal's Constitution and international treaties.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Nepal pushes for hydropower in protected areas through legal grey area
Mongabay · Abhaya Raj Joshi · Discovery and factual synthesis only; publisher copyright terms apply