Energy Minister Janardan Sharma today said prosperity of the country was not possible without energy.

Laying the foundation stone of a sub-station of Nepal Electricity Authority at Pataura, Maulapur-3 of Rautahat district today, he said hydroelectricity had a great potential speed up the country’s development.

Referring to incidents of power theft in the Tarai, the minister also warned of stern action against anyone found involved in power theft.

In a different context, he stressed on holding local bodies’ election and forwarding the constitution amendment process at the earliest for broader acceptability of the constitution.

Minister of State for Energy Satya Narayan Bhagat said Rautahat district would be made a ‘hooking-free’ district, meaning there would be no power theft in the district.

Energy Ministry Secretary Anup Kumar Upadhyaya sought cooperation from all sides for the development of the energy sector as it was the only alternative to propel economic development.

NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising said the sub-station project had been undertaken for electrification of Rautahat district.