KATHMANDU, Aug 7: The participants at a program in the Capital have pointed out the lack of clear policy and plans in relation to hydropower as challenges of producing enough electricity to meet the growing demands.
Speaking at the program organized by the National Stakeholders Campaign on 'Construction of Arun III for the development of hydropower in Nepal: How and Why', they said that the lack of a clear policy and plan relating to hydropower has led people to live in dark.
Despite having adequate source of investment, required resources and technical workforce, they said the hydropower sector is shrunk. They also raised concern over the 'dual extreme mentality' that says adequate investment cannot be collected within the country while barring foreign investment.
They also criticized the tendency of awarding important hydropower projects to foreign companies despite having adequate resources and manpower in the country.
On the occasion, saying that the Arun III Hydropower Project came to a halt in the mid of the construction possibility 25 years ago, said legal expert Dr Gopal Siwakoti 'Chintan' said that the project was halted with ill intention.
Likewise, another expert Dr Bal Bahadur Adhikari said that companies wanting to construct big hydropower projects for themselves should focus on national interest and demands and maximum welfare of affected people. He accused the government of failing to pay heeds to the capacity to collect investment within the country.
Also, the participants as CPN (Maoist Centre) Padam Rai, Chairman of the Upper Karnali Stakeholders' Committee Bharat Shahi, Dr Surendra KC and advocate Ekraj Bhandari suggested using domestic investment and skills in bringing drastic change in the field of hydropower in the country. RSS
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