Dream Of Prosperous Nepal Through Hydropower

It is really a disappointing fact that we are celebrating the centenary of welcoming electricity in our country this year with twelve hours of power cut a day.It is not as disappointing indeed because the power cut got reduced from alarming eighteen hours a day to just twelve hours.It was hundred years ago when the power house in Pharping,the first one,started producing hydroelectricity to light the Rana Palaces in Kathmandu.Though the supply was just limited in the palaces,this was indeed the inauguration to development and the credit goes to prime minister Chandra Shumsher.Another interesting fact is that when there was no electricity in China and South Asian countries,Nepal and British East India Company had the supply.

             We say,'Even when the gas mines in Gulf countries dry out,our water resources will still be good.'This is true but what's the value of money deposited in bank if it can't be withdrawn?The water resources in Nepal if utilized to the best of its capacity can be the milestone for the economic development of our country.Gulf countries within the span of just sixty years recognized their their possibilities and are today booming economically courtesy their gas mines.What are we doing with our resources?sadly nothing!

             One time investment in hydroelectricity can be the source of continuous income for the very long time.The hydro power projects are not effected by road strikes, blockades and pandemics.Nepalese water resources has the capacity of generating 83000 MW of electricity which is enough to fed the light to the whole Asia but due to lack of adequate investment and proper policy from our government, this has been a distant dream.

             During the Maoist insurgency and the state enforced counter insurgency,development of new hydro powers stations not only not only lagged behind but also got destroyed.Today even after signing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement(CPA)there has been disruptions of functioning the projects.The proper foundations for he developments are yet to be formed.The entrepreneurs face many hindrance start their business.When the entrepreneurs are ready to spend their hard earned money,the legal procedures also fueled by bureaucratic hassles which easily discourage potential investors.

The PPP model designed to collaborate between government and private firms to run the hydro power projects has not been properly designed or implemented in action.the labor dispute and the political interventions on the tuning projects add woes to the wounds of the upset entrepreneurs.The problem related to the transmission lines, security management, endless demands of the locals are also the hindrances faced by the entrepreneurs.

If these problems are alleviated and business friendly polices are maintained, the entrepreneurs of Nepal will make this country one of the prosperous country in the world..........