SONEUK Hosts Talk Programme on Budhigandaki Hydropower Impact

London- The Society of Nepalese Engineers in the UK (SONEUK) successfully hosted its fifth talk programme on Wednesday, 30th July 2025.

The event featured an insightful presentation by SONEUK member, Er. Manoj Kapri, titled “Socio-Economic Impact of the Budhigandaki Hydropower Project on Local Communities.” Er. Kapri is currently working as a Project Planner at PMPS Consulting Ltd.

The session began with a warm welcome by the moderator, Er. Nirdesh Khatiwada.

Er. Kapri commenced his presentation by providing a brief overview of the Budhigandaki Hydropower Project, highlighting its designation as one of Nepal’s national pride projects. He emphasised the project’s significance in contributing to national energy sufficiency, energy security, and Nepal’s net-zero targets.  

The core focus of the talk was the socio-economic impact of the project on local communities. Er. Kapri discussed the affected communities, the current status of the resettlement process, and the numerous challenges and delays faced in the project’s implementation. He offered thoughtful recommendations for more effective resettlement planning. Notably, he personalised the session by sharing stories of individuals impacted by the project, adding depth and empathy to the discussion.

SONEUK extends its sincere thanks to Er. Kapri for his dedicated efforts in delivering such an informative and thought-provoking presentation.

SONEUK also expresses gratitude to all participating engineers for their active engagement, insightful questions, and enthusiastic participation, which greatly contributed to the success of the event. The session lasted over an hour and concluded with an interactive Q&A segment.

In his closing remarks, SONEUK Chairperson, Er. Subodh Timilsina, thanked Er. Kapri and encouraged other members to utilise this platform to share their knowledge. He also urged members to use opportunities like this to enhance their soft communication skills and to lead the engineering fraternity by example.

The SONEUK Talk Programme series is currently being organised on a weekly basis.