Annual budget prioritizes alternative energy

KATHMANDU, July 18: In a bid to cut down carbon emissions and promote environment-friendly ways of generating energy, the government has allocated a hefty budget for the Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC) that falls under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (MoSTE).

Government has earmarked Rs 8.55 billion for the environment sector, with a huge chunk of the budget allocated for various projects under AEPC.Of the total Rs 4.77 billion allocated to the APEC, the biggest amount (Rs 4.08 billion) has been set aside for National Rural and Energy Promotion Programme (NREP), followed by Rs 634 million for AEPC Division and Rs 55.8 million for Kabila Prasaran Ayojana.

NREP, which is dedicated to promote better climate and minimize carbon activities through technical assistance, has received an overwhelming contribution of budget this year compared to the last fiscal year.

Budget allocated for Nepal Climate Change Support Program (NCCSP), a project under MoSTE, is equally sizable. NCCSP has been operating to implement Nepal's Climate Change Policy (2011), which sets out the goal to improve the people's livelihoods through climate change impact programs through adaptation and mitigation process. An amount of Rs 111 million has been allocated to the MoSTE.

While talking to Republica, Ram Prasad Dhital, executive director of AEPC, emphasized the need of developing alternative energy sources other than the ones that emit carbon.

"Clean energy and smoke-free environment contribute to the healthy growth of any country. We have the potential to generate energy from our natural resources," said Dhital.

Department of Environment (DoE) had received only Rs 60 million in the last fiscal year. This year the budget has been doubled to Rs 122 million.

However, Suraj Pokharel, director general of DoE, expressed dissatisfaction over the budget allocated for the department.

"The budget has increased, but the amount is not enough. We are in dire need of new Air Pollution Monitoring Stations. The cost for setting up one such station could exceed Rs 30 million. As per our assessment, we need over 55 stations across the country," said Pokharel.

Meanwhile, National Academy of Science and Technology has been allocated a budget of Rs 220 million, a significant rise compared to Rs 150 million allocated last year. Similarly, Rs 52 million has been allocated for BP Koirala Planetarium, Rs 71 million for the Office of Controller of Certification (OCC), Rs 283 million for National Information for Technology Centre (NITC), and National Forensic Science Laboratory (NFSL) has been allocated Rs 37 million.

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