January 21: The government has collected over Rs 3.15 billion in royalty from different hydropower projects that are in operation.    
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been collecting the royalty amount on a regular basis as it keeps the royalty amount collected from the power developers.    
Likewise, the Department of Electricity Development has asked some power developers to deposit the royalty amount as they were yet to clear their dues till the fiscal year 2079/080 BS, the Department's Director General Chiranjivi Chataut said.    
The projects failing to clear their dues would be charged by the NEA. As per the provision, the royalty amount would be provided to the affected communities at the local level.    
The Department has collected Rs 1.15 billion from license fees, Rs 8.7 million from penalty and confiscation and Rs 4.2 million from arrears. The Department collected Rs 4.31 billion plus in revenue in the fiscal year 2079/080.    
Likewise, the Department has collected Rs 595.5 million in royalty in the first six months of the current fiscal year while the amount from licensing is Rs 162.4 million. -- RSS