RE: Nepal pm on Hindustani auto

December 22, 2012 6:36 To: 'Mohan Lohani' Cc: 'Upendra Gautam'; 'Madan Regmi'; 'Madan Dahal'; 'madhukar'; 'Dwarika Nath Dhungel'; 'Dipak Gyawali'; 'Dr. Bal Kumar K. C.'; 'rajeshwar acharya'; 'Basanta Lohani' Dear Prof Lohani The crux of the tragedy we are facing lies in the superficiality in people’s comment. Priyanka Pani has got right in as much as the statement “Development of hydropower can overcome the current power shortage” is concerned. But development of hydropower in Nepal will not “overcome the current power shortage” in Nepal if the power generated is exported. The hydropower projects mentioned in the write-up are export-oriented and, hence, these aren’t being planned for mitigation of power shortage in Nepal. Rather they are to “overcome the current power shortage” India. I trust the intellectuals in Nepal are able to discern this particular but significant difference. Therefore, the likes of me are campaigning tooth and nail to abort these projects. We are not against these projects per se. meaning if these projects are developed not only to mitigate load shedding problem in Nepal but also to industrialize Nepal and electrify transportation, we will support these projects all out. With best regards, Sincerely, Ratna Sansar Shrestha, FCA Senior Water Resource Analyst www.RatnaSansar.com From: Mohan Lohani [mailto:m_p_lohani@yahoo.com] Sent: Friday, December 21, 2012 17:58 To: Upendra Gautam; Madan Regmi; Madan Dahal; madhukar; Ratna Sansar Shrestha; Dwarika Nath Dhungel; Dipak Gyawali; Dr. Bal Kumar K. C.; rajeshwar acharya; Basanta Lohani Subject: Re: Nepal pm on Hindustani auto Dear Dr.Gautam, Any layman knows well that development of hydropower can overcome the power shortage and could also generate revenues for Nepal.But how to translate this idea into action is our concern.Nepali PM has invited Indian investors to invest in hydropower sectors.There is nothing unusual about that.What are the terms on which they would like to invest and we are willing to sign the agreement? That is the crux of the problem.We have been talking about harnessing our water resources for over 5 decades and we have witnessed political changes from panchayat to parliamentary democracy and nobody knows what system is in store for hapless and helpless Nepalis.Load shedding hours,it is reported, are likely to be increased for 18 hours a day.We should all be prepared to go back to the Dark Age and should stop selling dreams to the people.People have lost interest in who is going to head the next govt that is expected to conduct the next CA elections(my impression was that CA election is once-in-a lifetime exercise).If people are helpless, who is the saviour of this country? All the best and regds, Mohan Lohani From: Upendra Gautam To: Madan Regmi ; Madan Dahal ; Mohan Lohani ; Dhrubahari Adhikari ; Kedar Mathema ; Bhishnu Nepal ; Prakash Lohani ; Hiranya Shrestha ; Surendra KC ; Keshab Paudel ; RP Acharya ; Surya Upadhyay ; Pushpa Pradhan Sent: Friday, December 21, 2012 12:35 PM Subject: Nepal pm on Hindustani auto Nepal PM calls for Indian investments in auto, hydropower sectors Priyanka Pani Recently in Kathmandu: Nepal Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai wants Indian investors to build and operate more hydropower and automobile sector projects in Nepal. “We have enough water to generate 85,000 mega watts (MW) of power that will be sufficient for domestic consumption. That apart, we can also look at selling the excess to several Indian states,” the Nepalese Prime Minister said while addressing a press delegation from Mumbai last week. The development of the hydropower sector in Nepal could earn revenues for the country, thus boosting the overall GDP growth rate of the country, which has been hovering at a mere 3 per cent since the last four decades. “We want to take this figure to a double-digit number in the next three years,” he said, adding that the Government is proactive in attracting Foreign Direct Investment to achieve high economic growth. Power shortage Development of hydropower can overcome the current power shortage in the country, speed up tourism and agriculture development, and enhance production capability of the country through rapid industrialisation, Bhattarai said. At present, the country faces a load shedding of 7-10 hours a day, thus impacting various other industrial and commercial activities. The country has already got investments from Indian power and infrastructure major GMR to build a 900-MW project at Upper Karnali. Besides, the Government is considering a project in Western Seti, which is being developed by another Indian firm Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam. It has already signed power purchase agreements with both these companies. However, the project has been facing several hindrances and protests from the locals and the licence expired recently. The Government has, however, allowed GMR to increase the authorised capital in its hydro power projects in Nepal to Rs 190 crore while also extending its survey licence by six months. The Government also extended the survey licence of the 600-MW Upper Marsyangdi Power Projects which expired in November 2011. A meeting of the high-level Investment Board chaired by the Prime Minister took decisions to renew the licences. Bhattarai also welcomed investments in the auto sector. The Government said that it will look into providing tax concessions so that Indian auto firms can set up manufacturing units. “There is a large cigarette factory which is defunct and can be utilised as an auto manufacturing factory,” he added. priyanka.pani@thehindu.co.in