Nepal is facing severe electricity crisis due to supply constraint and it has already been forecast that the load shedding is here to stay in the increasing magnitude. In the past,

            In Nepal, hydropower has historically been seen as the priority. It is still considered to have enormous potential, but after more than a century- from 1900 when the pharping power plan with 500 KW installed capacity was established- development has been extraordinarily slow. At present, hydropower still meets only two percent of the total energy need, and only some 40 percent of the total population has access to electricity. It is also the case that such hydropower plants as do exist have mainly catered to the electricity needs of the urban of same-urban areas, according to the authorized body NEA.

            After 1990, the government opened up the sector to local and foreign independent power producers (IPP), while the NEA also initiated some projects with different financing modes. As a result, a 290 MW capacity was developed within 10 years. But current peak-hour demand in the NEA system is over 560 MW and this is likely to increase in an average rate of seven percent every year, according to NEA.

            In the scarcity of electricity, because of the load shedding, many industries have been collapsed. Even many vehicles are unable to recharge their batteries. People do not have regular and efficient means of communication. Students suffer because they do not have electricity at the important period of study. Books are mot published on time. Students do not get books on time to read and prepare for the exams. People are unable to run computers at their wish. These and many other effects are being experienced. Nepal gets back and no proper development can be expected now.  

 

            It is necessary for the government, parties and people on authority to feel the electricity crisis closely and think of the future of the country, instead of personal benefit. We must use the enormous potentiality of hydropower and develop the country