Kathmandu, July 7
The United States administration is taking policymakers on a trip to the US to enlighten them as to the negative effects of dams on the ecology.
The sponsored trip comes at a time when the government of Nepal is making preparations to speed up the development of Budhi Gandaki (1,200 MW) and other reservoir-based hydropower projects with the total output of more than 5,000 MW. The idea is to show policymakers the impact and threat these superstructures pose to the ecology.
The entourage includes National Planning Commission Vice-chair, lawmakers, government secretaries and personalities from the private sector. Western countries, including the US, have been conducting anti-dam campaigns worldwide, having already developed major infrastructure projects, including roads, airports and hydels, in the 1980’s.
Though often touted as a ‘rich’ country in terms of water resources, Nepal has been grappling with an energy crisis for years. The country’s reservoir-based projects generate a paltry 92 MW. Due to the lack of irrigation infrastructure, Nepali farmers have to depend on rainfall to cultivate crops.
