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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expressed readiness to provide scientific and technical support for assessing damage from the devastating Bhote Koshi flood and developing climate-resilient power infrastructure in Nepal.

The commitment was made during a meeting between ADB Country Director for Nepal Arnaud Cauchois and Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, where they discussed scientific studies, damage assessments and future energy infrastructure strategies.

Minister Shrestha said the Ministry has formed an expert committee to establish a scientific basis for understanding the flood. It has also formed an in-house technical team to study the future development corridor, he said.

The Ministry is preparing an integrated concept paper based on the findings of the studies, Shrestha said.

ADB Country Director Cauchois said the bank was ready to collaborate with the Ministry’s expert and technical teams and provide scientific and technical support for the broader development of the energy sector. He also committed to working closely on damage assessment and future strategies.

Cauchois said glacial lakes are located in the headwaters of the Dudh Koshi Hydropower Project and that the ADB is conducting risk assessments to determine the potential impacts of climate change.

Shrestha stressed the need to conduct similar studies in other river basins, saying ADB support would be crucial for such assessments.