Hydropower developers push for cross-border power trade deals

Across Bagmati Province, businesses, regulators and civil society groups are watching this closely. What was once a niche concern now shapes investment decisions, hiring, and how firms report to lenders, buyers and partners.

Interviews conducted by the Monitor with business owners, officials and workers' representatives point to the same gap: the rules exist on paper, but guidance on how to comply, and who checks, is uneven between federal, provincial and local governments.

“We are not against regulation. We need to know what it asks of us, and when.”Business owner, Bagmati

For investors and donors, the issue is predictability. For small and medium enterprises, it is cost. Several firms said they would welcome clear timelines and a single point of contact rather than parallel processes at different offices.

Civil society groups add a further concern: that workers and affected communities are rarely consulted before decisions are made, and have few accessible ways to raise grievances afterwards.

What happens next

The Monitor will keep following this through its policy and B+HR trackers. Readers with information, documents or first-hand experience can contact the newsroom; sources are protected on request.