अाइतबार, माघ ११ गतेको नागरिक दैनिकमा उक्त पत्रिकाका प्रधान सम्पादकले विदेशी शक्तिको कालो छायाँ शिर्षकमा लेख लेखेर बुद्धिजीविको ध्यान आकृष्ट गर्न मात्र सफल भएका छैनन्, अझ आतंकित नै पारेका छन् । तर नेपालमा विदेशी शक्तिको छायाँ नपरेको कहिल्यै छैन । साथै छायाँ भनेको कालै हुन्छ, चर्को उज्यालो भएमा छायाँ गाढा कालो हुन्छ भने अंध्यारोमा छायाँ देखिन्न ।
हेरि ल्याउँदा विदेशी शक्तिको छायाँमा नपरेको कुनै पनि मुलुक छैन । सर्वशक्तिमान संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिकाको अर्थतन्त्र समेत उदयिमान चीनको छायाँमा परेको छ भने अरुको कुरै गर्नु बेकार छ । तर यस्तो छायाँले हित गर्छ कि अहित भन्ने कुरा भने सम्बन्धित राज्यको सरकारमा निर्भर गर्छ । लम्पसार पर्ने खालको सरकार भएको अवस्थामा विदेशी शक्तिको छायाँले हित भन्दा धेरै अहित गर्छ र सिक्किमको सन्दर्भ जोड्दा लेन्डुप दोर्जेको लम्पसारवादी नीतिले गर्दा विश्व इतिहाँसमा सिक्किम भन्ने सार्वभौमसत्ता सम्पन्न राज्यको अस्तित्व नैं लोप हुन पुग्यो । तर नेपालमा यति हद सम्मको लम्पसारवादी नीति नभएकोले आजको मिति सम्म नेपाल एउटा सावैभौमसत्ता सम्पन्न स्वतन्त्र राष्ट्रको रुपमा विश्व मानचित्रमा अस्तित्व बांकि छ । भोली के हुन्छ भन्ने कुरा सरकार, सरकार संचालन गर्ने राजनैतिक दलहरुमा निर्भर छ ।
यसो भन्दैमा विदेशी शक्तिको कालो छायाँले अहित गरेकै छैन भन्न मिल्दैन । यो कुराको पुष्ठीको लागि नेपालको जलश्रोत क्षेत्र मात्र हेरे पुग्छ । कोशी, गण्डकी, महाकाली हुंदै हालै सरकारले कर्णाली नदीमा पनि राष्ट्रघात गरिसकेको छ । नेपालको सार्वभौम अधिकार निहित नदीबाट उत्पादित बिजुली नेपाली जनतालाई बंचित पारेर निकासी गर्ने व्यवस्था मात्र नगरेर माथिल्लो कर्णाली आयोजना निर्माण गर्न ५०/६० अर्ब रुपैया लाग्नेमा नगद अनुदान र कर दैदस्तूर छूट मात्रै साढे ७६ अर्ब रुपैया प्रबर्द्धकलाई दिने तारतम्य मिल्ने गरेर अयोजना विकास सम्झौता सम्पन्न भै सकेको छ । अर्को तिर प्रबर्द्धकले आयोजनाको लागत नैं १ सय ४० अर्ब रुपैंया लाग्ने हिसाब देखाएर ८०/९० अर्ब रुपैया गबन गर्ने व्यवस्था गरिसकेको छ । यसरी उक्त आयोजना निर्माण गर्दा नैं प्रबर्द्धकले १ सय ५६ देखि १ सय ६६ अर्ब रुपैंया लाभ लिने भैसकेको छ । यति रकममा उक्त आयोजना जस्ता २ वटा आयोजना निर्माण गर्न पुग्थ्यो ।
समग्रमा के हुने भयाे भने जीएमअारले िबना लगािन मात्र हाेइन उल्टाे झण्डै २ खर्ब रुपैया अायाेजना िनर्माणकाे क्रममा नैं हस्तगत गर्छ र अायाेजनाकाे स्वािमत्व पनि हािसल गरेर २५ वर्ष सम्म नाफा पनि कमाउंछ । कस्ताे राम्राेसंग नेपालकाे स्वार्थ सम्बर्धन गरेकाे !
तर अधिकांश संचार माध्यम माैन बसेर याे अपराधकाे मतियार भएकाे छ र
यो उदाहरणले पनि नेपालको सार्वभौमसत्तामा ह्रास आएको इंगित गर्छ ।
तर यस सन्दर्भमा संचार माध्यमको भूमिका पनि कम महत्वपूर्ण छैन । वर्तमानमा अधिकांश संचार माध्यम पनि विदेशी शक्तिको कालो छायाँमा संचालित छन् । सुनिन्छ, कतिपय संचार माध्यमले विदेशी शक्तिबाट हण्डी नैं प्राप्त गर्छन । िबज्ञापनले पनि हण्डीकाे काम गर्ने स्मरणिय छ ।
नेपाल भ्रष्टाचार धेरै हुने मुलुकमा पर्छ तर कम भ्रष्टाचार हुने मुलुकमा पनि राजनीितकर्मीले भ्रष्टाचार गर्ने गर्छन् । तर संचार माध्यमले अन्तःस्करणकाे काम गर्छ । अमेिरकि राष्ट्रपति िनक्सनकाे संचार माध्यमकाे सजगताले गर्दा पतन भएकाे ज्वलन्त उदाहरण छ ।
मूल कुरा के हो भने संचार माध्यमले देशको अन्तःस्करणको काम गर्नुपर्छ र सरकारको कमिकमजोरी निडर निर्भिक भएर औंल्याउनु पर्छ । तर अपवाद वाहेक अधिकांश संचार माध्यमले, उदाहरणार्थ माथिल्लो कर्णाली आयोजनामा भए गरिएको धाँधली बारे कुरा नैं उल्लेख गर्दैनन्, लेख लेखेर पठाए पनि छाप्दैनन् । बरु यस्तो धाँधलीको खुलासा गर्नेलाई संचार माध्यमले विकास बिरोधीको बिल्ला भिराउन र खलनायक नामकरण गर्न पछि पर्दैनन् । साथै के पनि सुन्नमा आएको छ भने उक्त आयोजनाको प्रबर्द्धकले कतिपय संचार माध्यमलाई प्रत्यक्ष वा परोक्षरुपमा हण्डी बितरण गरेकोले यस सम्बन्धमा मौन धारण गरेको हो ।
र, जब अन्तःस्करणले आफ्नो काम गर्दैन तब त्यो व्यक्ति वा राष्ट्रको भविष्य समाप्त हुन्छ । त्यसकारण संचार माध्यमले पनि आफ्नो कर्तव्यपथबाट बिमुख नहुने हो भने मात्र जत्तिसुकै गाढा कालो छायाँ भए पनि राष्ट्र सार्वभौमसत्ता सम्पन्न तथा स्वतंत्र रहन्छ, नत्र खैरियत छैन । यस्ताेमा संचार माध्यमले राजनीतिकर्मीकाे अालाेचना गरेर पण्डित्याइं छांट्दा पानी मुिन अाेभानाे उक्ति मात्र चरितार्थ हुन्छ ।
Monday, January 26, 2015
Friday, January 23, 2015
“Export” of National Interest in Upper Karnali
In the wake of signing of project development agreement (PDA) for Upper Karnali Project (UKP) with GMR Upper Karnali Hydropower Limited (the entity incorporated in Nepal by GMR), PM Sushil Koirala, in an interview given to an English newspaper recently said, “Do not take me as one of the Koiralas who sold our rivers” and went on to assert that “I will not let anti-national act to take place in the country.” From this it becomes clear that he thinks pervious Koirala PMs committed anti-national act and is determined not to commit any anti-national act.
However, the PDA was signed notwithstanding raging protest against it, also while the matter was sub judice in Supreme Court, impelling “Civil Society Alliance for Rational Water Resources Development in Nepal” to send open letters to respective prime ministers of Nepal and India. Therefore, the PDA warrants an assessment with respect to whether any anti-national act was committed.
No mitigation of load shedding
One of the justifications trotted out by those in favor of PDA for UPK was that Nepal’s load shedding will be mitigated with commissioning of UKP as Nepal is slated to receive 12% free energy. While those opposing it, opined that free energy amounts to just meagre 18 MW in dry season and also pointed out that the full potential of the site (Karnali Bend) shouldn’t be killed, which is 4,180 MW reservoir, generating 4 times more electricity (actually helping Nepal achieve energy security). Reservoir project also would have ensured water and food security by generating lean season augmented flow of 500 m3/s.
In this backdrop it is surprising that PDA has a provision for export of free electricity in clause 10(14A) and GoN has to pay “transmission tariff” to GMR for the purpose. Under clause 11.15.4 GMR has been reposed with the responsibility to take care of export for which it would be paid trading commission, too. While there is no provision to use free electricity to mitigate Nepal’s load shedding, nor is there any provision to evacuate free electricity inside Nepal.
In view of this it is clear that even free electricity is to be exported which is tantamount to “exporting” national interest. Because the very foundation of justification for signing PDA was to use free electricity to mitigate Nepal’s load shedding problem.
Hence, anti-national act has taken place in 3 ways: (1) killing full potential of the site, thus depriving people from energy security, (2) depriving people of the region from water and food security (possible by multiple cropping with lean season augmented flow from reservoir) and (3) exporting free electricity against GoN’s assurance. This is a clear case of adding insult to injury in more than one way.
The PDA is detrimental to Nepal’s interest in following ways also.
Subsidy and exemption of tax and duties
There is provision for various financial/fiscal facilities to GMR in clause 9(2). GMR is entitled to cash subsidy of Rs 5 million/MW (totaling Rs 4.5 billion) for having paid VAT to GoN, although under Nepal law such subsidy is to be provided only to projects that connect to national grid to meet Nepal’s internal demand. This amounts to subsidizing Indian consumers. It is strange that Nepal, a poorer neighbor and a recipient of largesse from India, is reciprocating as such.
Further, GMR is entitled to 50% discount on custom duty on import of cement, iron and steel products (estimated amount: Rs 4.5 billion). This facility isn’t afforded to projects built to meet Nepal’s internal demand.
Similarly, GMR is exempt from paying custom duty (except for 1%) and VAT on import of plant, equipment and machinery (estimated amount: Rs 17.5 billion) under Electricity Act. Moreover, there is provision for income tax holiday for 10 years (estimated amount: Rs 40 billion @ Rs 4 billion/year) and 50% discount on income tax for next 5 years (Rs 10 billion @ Rs 2 billion/year) in accordance to Nepal law.
The sum total of subsidy and exemptions is Rs 76.5 billion. Nepal’s macro economy suffers in two ways due to these. One, cost of construction and, therefore, cost of energy generated also gets reduced, but Nepali people don’t get to use such low cost electricity. Two, Nepal’s treasury has to bear such a huge amount. A clear case of double whammy.
Providing such facility to projects for internal consumption is logical. Because, although GoN treasury suffers, populace benefit. In this instance GoN bears the impact of such facilities without general public benefiting (it could have been justified if Nepal was a part of India, which, thankfully, isn’t the case).
Gift of 900 MW project to India
Furthermore, the project site is the most attractive site of world (not just amongst the sites in Nepal) as there is natural dam of 140 meters (no investment required to build a dam of this height) by digging a tunnel of less than 2 km. Therefore; actual project cost is Rs 50/60 billion only according to knowledgeable people. Hence, instead of showering such largesse to GMR (through it to India) GoN could have easily implemented the project from its own sources (using fund involved in subsidy and tax exemptions).
In other words, in the name of attracting foreign investment, GoN has committed to provide subsidy and exemptions amounting to more than actual project cost. By doing so, GoN has essentially gifted UKP free of cost to India without taking any credit for it against Indian practice of publicizing worldwide, with fanfare, every time it provides a few million to Nepal.
Additional electricity generation
If any reservoir project/s is/are built in upstream of this project, its electricity generation will not only increase but its firm energy (which fetches higher tariff) generation also will increase by a magnitude. According to clause 6.1.1(D), GoN is entitled to only half of incremental generation. As Nepal will have to suffer from inundation and displacement by building storage project, she is entitled to not only all incremental generation but she deserves the incremental revenue from enhancement of firm energy as well. Therefore, this provision is another component of PDA, which is against Nepal’s national interest.
Selection of contractor/supplier
There is provision for awarding construction and supply contract in clause 11(34) without transparent and competitive bidding. The likely intention of this provision is to siphon off about Rs 80 to Rs 90 billion out of inflated cost of Rs 140 billion (as mentioned above the actual cost is about Rs 50 to 60 billion only) in collusion with contractors/suppliers. This is how anti-national act isn’t committed!
Revenue from carbon trading
Carbon offset results by exporting electricity from this project, which can be internationally traded. There is provision for sharing of revenue from carbon trading between GoN and GMR in clause 11(37) of PDA. As Nepal exports electricity depriving Nepal’s economy from its use, Nepal deserves the revenue generated by trading carbon offset. This is sacrifice of another source of revenue to GoN.
Force majeure
According to international practice none of the contracting parties are liable in the case of force majeure condition. But GoN is liable to compensate GMR for delays due to force majeure under clause 12.5.8 of PDA. In this way Nepal will have to bear additional financial liability when things are beyond its control. This provision too is obviously detrimental to Nepal.
Change in law
Nepali people are citizens of this country and are subject to all laws under the constitution of Nepal. Similarly, the company incorporated to implement UKP, which is a corporate citizen of Nepal, too is subject Nepal law with respect to all rights and duties, except for political right to cast vote. But under clause 12A of PDA, GMR will not be liable to any additional tax liability imposed by change in law. This amounts to preferential treatment of GMR to the discrimination of citizenry of Nepal (against the very principle of fundamental right to equality) and, hence, anti-national.
GoN to bear project expense
There is provision for constituting a project review panel (PRP) in clause 5 of PDA and under clause 5.5 costs related to PRP is to be borne equally by GoN and GMR. As this is purely a project related expenditure, there is no justification for GoN to share it and thereby enrich GMR; further burden on GoN treasury. Because since GMR wouldn’t share profit with GoN why should GoN share cost?
Facilitation fee to IBN
Under clause 11.28 GMR has to pay IBN $ 15,000 per quarter, totaling $ 60,000 per annum. PDA has made provision to benefit GMR in every way possible by billions of dollars. But charging GMR such a petty amount doesn’t make sense. Is ths how national interest is ensured?
PM’s claim re anti-national act
From the above it is clear that there are many provisions in the PDA, which are detrimental to Nepal. But PM Koirala insists that he has not done anything against Nepal’s interest. Killing potential capacity of the site of 4,000 MW itself constitutes treason and colluding with GMR to further bilk Nepal’s treasury in various pretence is absolute betrayal of our motherland.
Ratna Sansar Shrestha
Published in People's Review Weekly on 22nd January 2015
However, the PDA was signed notwithstanding raging protest against it, also while the matter was sub judice in Supreme Court, impelling “Civil Society Alliance for Rational Water Resources Development in Nepal” to send open letters to respective prime ministers of Nepal and India. Therefore, the PDA warrants an assessment with respect to whether any anti-national act was committed.
No mitigation of load shedding
One of the justifications trotted out by those in favor of PDA for UPK was that Nepal’s load shedding will be mitigated with commissioning of UKP as Nepal is slated to receive 12% free energy. While those opposing it, opined that free energy amounts to just meagre 18 MW in dry season and also pointed out that the full potential of the site (Karnali Bend) shouldn’t be killed, which is 4,180 MW reservoir, generating 4 times more electricity (actually helping Nepal achieve energy security). Reservoir project also would have ensured water and food security by generating lean season augmented flow of 500 m3/s.
In this backdrop it is surprising that PDA has a provision for export of free electricity in clause 10(14A) and GoN has to pay “transmission tariff” to GMR for the purpose. Under clause 11.15.4 GMR has been reposed with the responsibility to take care of export for which it would be paid trading commission, too. While there is no provision to use free electricity to mitigate Nepal’s load shedding, nor is there any provision to evacuate free electricity inside Nepal.
In view of this it is clear that even free electricity is to be exported which is tantamount to “exporting” national interest. Because the very foundation of justification for signing PDA was to use free electricity to mitigate Nepal’s load shedding problem.
Hence, anti-national act has taken place in 3 ways: (1) killing full potential of the site, thus depriving people from energy security, (2) depriving people of the region from water and food security (possible by multiple cropping with lean season augmented flow from reservoir) and (3) exporting free electricity against GoN’s assurance. This is a clear case of adding insult to injury in more than one way.
The PDA is detrimental to Nepal’s interest in following ways also.
Subsidy and exemption of tax and duties
There is provision for various financial/fiscal facilities to GMR in clause 9(2). GMR is entitled to cash subsidy of Rs 5 million/MW (totaling Rs 4.5 billion) for having paid VAT to GoN, although under Nepal law such subsidy is to be provided only to projects that connect to national grid to meet Nepal’s internal demand. This amounts to subsidizing Indian consumers. It is strange that Nepal, a poorer neighbor and a recipient of largesse from India, is reciprocating as such.
Further, GMR is entitled to 50% discount on custom duty on import of cement, iron and steel products (estimated amount: Rs 4.5 billion). This facility isn’t afforded to projects built to meet Nepal’s internal demand.
Similarly, GMR is exempt from paying custom duty (except for 1%) and VAT on import of plant, equipment and machinery (estimated amount: Rs 17.5 billion) under Electricity Act. Moreover, there is provision for income tax holiday for 10 years (estimated amount: Rs 40 billion @ Rs 4 billion/year) and 50% discount on income tax for next 5 years (Rs 10 billion @ Rs 2 billion/year) in accordance to Nepal law.
The sum total of subsidy and exemptions is Rs 76.5 billion. Nepal’s macro economy suffers in two ways due to these. One, cost of construction and, therefore, cost of energy generated also gets reduced, but Nepali people don’t get to use such low cost electricity. Two, Nepal’s treasury has to bear such a huge amount. A clear case of double whammy.
Providing such facility to projects for internal consumption is logical. Because, although GoN treasury suffers, populace benefit. In this instance GoN bears the impact of such facilities without general public benefiting (it could have been justified if Nepal was a part of India, which, thankfully, isn’t the case).
Gift of 900 MW project to India
Furthermore, the project site is the most attractive site of world (not just amongst the sites in Nepal) as there is natural dam of 140 meters (no investment required to build a dam of this height) by digging a tunnel of less than 2 km. Therefore; actual project cost is Rs 50/60 billion only according to knowledgeable people. Hence, instead of showering such largesse to GMR (through it to India) GoN could have easily implemented the project from its own sources (using fund involved in subsidy and tax exemptions).
In other words, in the name of attracting foreign investment, GoN has committed to provide subsidy and exemptions amounting to more than actual project cost. By doing so, GoN has essentially gifted UKP free of cost to India without taking any credit for it against Indian practice of publicizing worldwide, with fanfare, every time it provides a few million to Nepal.
Additional electricity generation
If any reservoir project/s is/are built in upstream of this project, its electricity generation will not only increase but its firm energy (which fetches higher tariff) generation also will increase by a magnitude. According to clause 6.1.1(D), GoN is entitled to only half of incremental generation. As Nepal will have to suffer from inundation and displacement by building storage project, she is entitled to not only all incremental generation but she deserves the incremental revenue from enhancement of firm energy as well. Therefore, this provision is another component of PDA, which is against Nepal’s national interest.
Selection of contractor/supplier
There is provision for awarding construction and supply contract in clause 11(34) without transparent and competitive bidding. The likely intention of this provision is to siphon off about Rs 80 to Rs 90 billion out of inflated cost of Rs 140 billion (as mentioned above the actual cost is about Rs 50 to 60 billion only) in collusion with contractors/suppliers. This is how anti-national act isn’t committed!
Revenue from carbon trading
Carbon offset results by exporting electricity from this project, which can be internationally traded. There is provision for sharing of revenue from carbon trading between GoN and GMR in clause 11(37) of PDA. As Nepal exports electricity depriving Nepal’s economy from its use, Nepal deserves the revenue generated by trading carbon offset. This is sacrifice of another source of revenue to GoN.
Force majeure
According to international practice none of the contracting parties are liable in the case of force majeure condition. But GoN is liable to compensate GMR for delays due to force majeure under clause 12.5.8 of PDA. In this way Nepal will have to bear additional financial liability when things are beyond its control. This provision too is obviously detrimental to Nepal.
Change in law
Nepali people are citizens of this country and are subject to all laws under the constitution of Nepal. Similarly, the company incorporated to implement UKP, which is a corporate citizen of Nepal, too is subject Nepal law with respect to all rights and duties, except for political right to cast vote. But under clause 12A of PDA, GMR will not be liable to any additional tax liability imposed by change in law. This amounts to preferential treatment of GMR to the discrimination of citizenry of Nepal (against the very principle of fundamental right to equality) and, hence, anti-national.
GoN to bear project expense
There is provision for constituting a project review panel (PRP) in clause 5 of PDA and under clause 5.5 costs related to PRP is to be borne equally by GoN and GMR. As this is purely a project related expenditure, there is no justification for GoN to share it and thereby enrich GMR; further burden on GoN treasury. Because since GMR wouldn’t share profit with GoN why should GoN share cost?
Facilitation fee to IBN
Under clause 11.28 GMR has to pay IBN $ 15,000 per quarter, totaling $ 60,000 per annum. PDA has made provision to benefit GMR in every way possible by billions of dollars. But charging GMR such a petty amount doesn’t make sense. Is ths how national interest is ensured?
PM’s claim re anti-national act
From the above it is clear that there are many provisions in the PDA, which are detrimental to Nepal. But PM Koirala insists that he has not done anything against Nepal’s interest. Killing potential capacity of the site of 4,000 MW itself constitutes treason and colluding with GMR to further bilk Nepal’s treasury in various pretence is absolute betrayal of our motherland.
Ratna Sansar Shrestha
Published in People's Review Weekly on 22nd January 2015
Thursday, January 22, 2015
निशुल्क बिजुलीमैं पनि राष्ट्रघात
निकासीमूलक माथिल्लो कर्णाली आयोजनाका प्रबर्द्धक जीएआरलाई निर्माण गर्न दिनुपर्छ भन्ने देखि वर्तमान अवधारणामा हुन्न भन्ने बिबाद हुंदाहुंदै नेपाल सरकारले प्रबर्द्धकसंग आयोजना विकास सम्झौता (पीडीए) सम्पन्न गरेर भारतलाई खुशी पार्ने कोशिश गरेको देखिन्छ । सर्बोच्च अदालतमा पनि यस सम्बन्धमा एक भन्दा बढी रिट निवेदनहरु बिचाराधीन छन् भने नागरिक समाजका केहि अगुवाहरुले नेपाल तथा भारतका प्रधानमन्त्रीहरुलाई यो पीडीएले गर्दा नेपाल भारत दुबैलाई घाटा पर्ने सम्बन्धमा खुल्लापत्र लेखेका छन् ।
तर आयोजनाको पीडीएमा हस्ताक्षर हुंदा व्यक्तिगतरुपमा उपस्थित रहेका प्रधानमन्त्री कोइरालाले बिगतमा मातृका, विश्वेश्वर तथा गिरिजा लगायतका तीन कोइराला प्रधानमन्त्रीहरुले नदी बेचे झैं आफूले राष्ट्रघात नगरेको दाबी गरेकाछन् । यस परिप्रेक्ष्यमा पीडीएका व्यवस्थाहरुको बिबेचना गर्न वान्छनिय हुन्छ ।
लोडसेडिंग निराकरण नहुने
वर्तमान अवधारणालाई गलत भन्नेहरु यो आयोजनास्थल (कर्णाली घुम्ती)मा जडित क्षमता ९ सय मेगावाट होइन ४ हजार १ सय ८० मेगावाटको पूर्ण क्षमतामा निर्माण गरेर ४ गुणा बढी बिजुली मात्र उत्पादन नगरेर जलाशयमा वर्षातको पानी संचित गरेर सुक्खायाममा खानेपानी, सिंचाई आदिको लागि उपलब्ध गरिनुपर्छ भन्ने धारणा राख्छन् र पूर्ण क्षमतामा निर्माण गरिंदा नेपाल सरकारलाई रोयल्टी समेत ४ गुणा बढी प्राप्त हुने कुरा आंैल्याउंछन् ।
कुनै पनि हालतमा बनाइनु पर्छ भन्नेहरु १२ प्रतिशत भएपनि निशुल्क प्राप्त हुने बिजुलीले नेपालको बिद्यमान लोडसेडिंगको समस्या केहि हद सम्म भएपनि निराकरण हुने तर्क गर्छन्, बिमति राख्नेहरुलाई विकास बिरोधी बिल्ला भिराएर । यस सम्बन्धमा वर्षातमा १ सय ८ मेगावाट निशुल्क प्राप्त भएपनि सुक्खायाममा १८ मेगावाट मात्र प्राप्त हुने हुनाले लोडसेडिंगको समस्या तात्विकरुपमा निराकरण नहुने कुरा पनि औंल्याइएका थिए ।
तर प्रबर्द्धकसंग भएको आयोजना विकास सम्झौता (पीडीए)को दफा १०(१४क) मा नेपाल सरकारलाई प्राप्त हुने निशुल्क बिजुली भारत निकासी गर्ने व्यवस्था छ, त्यो पनि प्रशारण शुल्क तिरेर । साथै दफा ११.१५.४ मा निकासी गर्ने जिम्मा प्रबर्द्धकलाई नैं दिने र सो बापत दलाली शुल्क तिर्ने व्यवस्था छ । त्यस्तै भारत निकासी गर्नको लागि प्रशारण संजालको व्यवस्था छ । अर्को तर्फ यसरी निशुल्क प्राप्त हुने बिजुली नेपालको कुन आन्तरिक बजारमा के कसरी उपलब्ध गरिनेछ भन्ने सम्बन्धमा पूर्णतः मौन छ र नेपालमा आपूर्तिको लागि प्रशारण संजालको व्यवस्था पनि छैन ।
त्यसकारण निशुल्क बिजुली निकासी नैं गरिने स्पष्टिन्छ र यो आयोजना निर्माण भएर नेपालको लोडसेडिंग निराकरणमा हुंदैन । यसले गर्दा घाउमा नुनचूक दलेको चरितार्थ हुनेछ र तेहोरो रुपमा राष्ट्रघात भएकोछः (१) ४ हजार मेगावाट भन्दा बढी बिद्युत उत्पादन क्षमता भएको आयोजनास्थललाई ९ सयमा सीमित गरेकोले, (२) सुक्खायाममा थप पानी उत्पादन गरेर उर्जा सुरक्षाको अलावा जल सुरक्षा तथा खाद्य सुरक्षा पनि हासिल गर्ने सम्भावनाबाट त्यस भेगका जनतालाई बंचित गरेकोले र (३) थोरै भए पनि निशुल्क प्राप्त हुने बिजुली पनि भारत निकासी गर्ने भएकोले ।
आश्चर्यजनक के छ भने पीडीएमा माथि उल्लिखित तेहोरो बाहेक अन्य तरिकाबाट पनि राष्ट्रलाई घाटा पार्ने काम भएको रहेछ, जुन निम्न प्रकरणहरुमा विश्लेषण गरिएकोछ ।
कर दैदस्तूर छूट तथा अनुदान
पीडीएको दफा ९(२) मा बिभिन्न प्रकारका वित्तिय सहुलियतहरुको व्यवस्था गरिएकोछ । जस मध्ये पहिलो हो राज्यलाई सिमन्टी जस्ता सामग्रीमा मूल्य अभिबृद्धि कर तिरे बापत प्रति मेगावाट ५० लाख रुपैया को दरले जम्मा साढे ४ अर्ब रुपैंया अनुदान । यस्तो अनुदान राष्ट्रिय प्रशारण संजालमा जोडेर नेपालको आन्तरिक मांग पूर्ति गर्ने प्रबर्द्धकलाई मात्र दिने कानूनी व्यवस्था छ । त्यस्तै सिमन्टी, छड आयात गर्दा लाग्ने भंसार महशूल पनि ५० प्रतिशत छूट दिइनेछ, जुन सुविधा नेपालको आन्तरिक खपतको लागि निर्माण हुने आयोजनाहरुलाई छैन । यो सुविधाले राज्य माथि अन्दाजि साढे ४ अर्ब रुपंैया थप भार पर्छ ।
यस अतिरिक्त यो आयोजनाले बिद्यमान कानूनमा व्यवस्था भए अनुरुप मेशिनरी उपकरण आदि पैठारी गर्दा पनि भंसार महशूल र मूल्य अभिबृद्धि कर छूट पाउनेछ, जुन अंदाजि साढे १७ अर्ब रुपैंया हुनेछ । त्यस्तै पहिलो १५ वर्ष शतप्रतिशत आयकर छूट पाउने हुनाले वार्षिक ४ अर्ब रुपैंयाको दरले आयकर छूट पाएर १० वर्षमा ४० अर्ब रुपैया र त्यस पछिको ५ वर्ष ५० प्रतिशत आयकर छूट पाएर वार्षिक २ अर्ब रुपैंयाको दरले १० अर्ब रुपैंया राज्यको कोषले गुमाउनेछ ।
यसरी नगद अनुदान तथा कर दैदस्तूर छूट समेत गरेर आयोजना प्रबर्द्धकले साढे ७६ अर्ब रुपैंयाले लाभान्वित हुनेछ । यस्तो सुविधाको कारणले राष्ट्रलाई दोहोरो घाटा हुन्छः अनुदान तथा सहुलियतको कारणले आयोजनाको उत्पादन लागत कम भएर उत्पादित बिजुली सस्तो पर्छ तर सस्तो बिजुलीबाट नेपाली उपभोक्ता बंचित हुनाको अलावा राज्यको कोषमा अनावश्यक भार पर्नाले ।
यो आयोजना विश्वकैं (नेपालमा सम्भाब्य लाखौं आयोजनाहरुमध्ये मात्र होइन) आकर्षक आयोजना भएकोले यसको निर्माण लागत ५० देखि ६० अर्ब रुपैंया मात्र लाग्छ र प्रबर्द्धकलाई राज्यले दिएको नगद अनुदान तथा कर दैदस्तूर छूटबाट मात्रै यो आयोजना सजिलै निर्माण गर्न सकिन्छ ।
अर्थात बिदेशी लगानि आकृष्ट गर्ने नाममा यो आयोजना निर्माण गर्न पुग्ने भन्दा बढी नगद अनुदान तथा कर दैदस्तूर छूट दिएर पनि राष्ट्रलाई घाटा पु¥याउने काम भएकोछ, राष्ट्रघात भएकोछ । यसबाट राज्यले नैं आवश्यक रकम परिचालन गरेर यो आयोजना निर्माण गर्न सक्ने देखिन्छ र यसको बिजुली नेपालको द्रुत आर्थिक विकासको लागि उपयोग गर्न सक्नेमा बिदेशी प्रबर्द्धकलाई पृष्ठपोषण गरेर तथा नेपालकै लागि अत्यावश्यक बिजुली भारत निकासी गर्ने व्यवस्था गरेर राष्ट्रघात गरिएकोछ ।
थप बिजुली उत्पादन
यो आयोजनाको माथिल्लो तटीय इलाकामा जलाशययुक्त आयोजना निर्माण भएमा यो आयोजनाबाट थप बिजुली उत्पादन मात्र हुन सक्ने होइन सुनिश्चित बिजुली (फर्म इनर्जि) उत्पादन पनि धेरै गुणाले बढ्नेछ । पीडीएको दफा ६.१.१(घ)मा यस्तो थप उत्पादित बिजुलीमा प्रबर्द्धकको पनि आधा हक लाग्ने व्यवस्था गरिएको छ, जुन राष्ट्रघाती काम हो । प्रबर्द्धकको टर्बाइन बढी समय चल्ने भएर बढी खिइने हद सम्मको रकम मात्र दिइनुपथ्र्यो । नेपालले डुबान र बिस्थापन भोगेर वर्षातको पानी संचित गरेर सुक्खायाममा थप पानी उपलब्ध गरिएर उत्पादन हुने बिजुली माथिको सम्पूर्ण हक नेपाल सरकारको हुनुपर्ने मात्र नभएर बढी मूल्यमा बिक्री हुने सुनिश्चित बिजुली थप उत्पादन भएको कारणले अभिबृद्धि हुने राजश्वमा पनि नेपालको हक लाग्छ । यस बिपरित थप उत्पादित बिजुलीको आधामा मात्र नेपालको हक लाग्ने व्यवस्था राष्ट्रलाई थप घाटा पार्ने षडयन्त्र हो ।
ठेकेदारको नियुक्ति
पीडीएको दफा ११(३४) मा प्रतिश्पर्धा तथा पारदर्शिता बिना ठेकदार नियुक्ति गर्ने व्यवस्था छ । यसको लागत ५० देखि ६० अर्ब रुपैंया मात्र लाग्नुपर्नेमा १ सय ४० अर्ब रुपैया लाग्ने घोषणा गरिसकेको परिप्रेक्ष्यमा बिना प्रतिश्पर्धा र पारदर्शिता ठेकेदार नियुक्ति गरेर, ठेकेदारसंग मिलेर ८० देखि ९० अर्ब रुपैंया बांडचुंडी लिने तयारी गरेको देखिन्छ ।
कार्बन ब्यापारबाट आय
यो आयोजनाबाट उत्पादित बिजुली भारत निकासी गर्दा कार्बनडाइअक्साइड वायू उत्सर्जन बिस्थापित हुन्छ, जुन बिक्री गरेर आय आर्जन गर्न सकिन्छ । पीडीएको दफा ११(३७) मा यसरी आर्जन भएको आय नेपाल सरकार र प्रबर्द्धकले बांड्ने व्यवस्था छ । नेपालले आफ्नो मुलुकमा उपयोग नगरेर भारत निकासी गर्दा हुने यस्तो आयमा नेपालको पूर्ण हक लाग्नेमा प्रबर्द्धकसंग बाँड्ने व्यवस्था राखेर पनि राष्ट्रघात गरिएकोछ ।
काबू बाहिरको परिस्थिति
अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय परिपाटी अनुसार काबू बाहिरको परिस्थितिको कारणले कुनै पनि पक्षले नोक्सानि व्यहोरेमा अर्को पक्ष जिम्मेवार नहुने प्रचलन छ । तर यो आयोजनाको पीडीएको दफा १२.५.८ मा काबू बाहिरको कारणले प्रबर्द्धकले नोक्सानि व्यहोरेको खण्डमा नेपाल सरकारले प्रबर्द्धकलाई क्षतिपूर्ति दिनुपर्ने व्यवस्था गरेर पनि राष्ट्रलाई घाटा पार्ने प्रपञ्च मिलाएकोछ ।
कानून परिवर्तनबाट उन्मुक्ति
नेपाली जनता नेपालको नागरिक भए झैं प्रबर्द्धक संस्था नेपाल राज्यमा दर्ता भएपछि नेपालको संस्थागत नागरिक बन्दछ, जसलाई मतदान गर्ने राजनैतिक अधिकार बाहेक अन्य सम्पूर्ण अधिकार तथा कर्तव्य हुन्छ । संबैधानिक व्यवस्था अनुसार कानून परिवर्तन भएर थप कर दैदस्तूर लाग्ने भएमा नेपाली नागरिकले उन्मुक्ति पाउंदैन । तर पीडीएको दफा १२क मा कानूनमा परिवर्तन भएर कर दैदस्तूरको दायित्व बृद्धि भएपनि प्रबर्द्धकले यस्तो थप दायित्वबाट उन्मुक्ति पाउने व्यवस्था गरेको पनि राष्ट्र हितमा छैन र सामान्य नागरिक प्रति बिभेद हुने गरेर यो व्यवस्थाले संबिधानले प्रत्याभूत गरको समानताको हकबाट सामान्य नागरिकलाई बंचित गरिएकोछ ।
आयोजनाको खर्च राज्यले बेहोर्ने
पीडीएमा आयोजना पुनरावलोकन कार्यदलको व्यवस्था छ र यस्तो कार्यदलको खर्च आयोजनाकै खर्च मानिने अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय मान्यता छ । तर दफा ५(५) मा यस्तो कार्यदलको खर्च नेपाल सरकारले पनि आधा ब्यहोर्ने ब्यवस्था छ, जुन युक्तिसंगत छैन । आयोजना प्रबर्द्धकले नाफा भने एकलौटी गर्ने तर आयोजना सम्बन्धी खर्च भने नेपाल सरकारले आधा ब्यहोर्नाले पनि राज्यलाई थप घाटा पर्नेछ ।
लगानि बोर्डलाई सहजिकरण शुल्क
पीडीएको दफा ११(२८) मा लगानि बोर्डलाई वार्षिक ६० लाख रुपैंया सहजिकरण शुल्क प्रबर्द्धकले भुक्तानि गर्ने व्यवस्था गरिएकोछ । नेपाल सरकाले प्रत्यक्ष तथा परोक्षरुपमा प्रबद्र्धकलाई झण्डैे १ खर्ब रुपैया भन्दा बढीले लाभान्वित गर्ने अनि लगानि बोर्डले यति थोरै रकममा दांत गाड्नु भनेको सबै छाडी टपरी मुनि हात भन्ने उक्ति चरितार्थ हुन्छ ।
राष्ट्रघात नगरेको प्रधानमन्त्रीको दाबी
माथि उल्लेख गरिए झैं धेरै किसिमले राष्ट्रलाई घाटा हुने काम गरेर पनि राष्ट्रघात गरेको छैन भनेर पानीमुनि ओभानो छुं भन्दैमा जनताले पत्याउने अवस्था छैन । ४ हजार मेगावाट भन्दा बढी क्षमताको आयोजनास्थललाई ९ सय मेगावाटमा सीमित गरेर मात्र राष्ट्रघात गरेको नभएर पीडीए गर्दा पनि नेपाली जनता, नेपालको अर्थतन्त्र तथा नेपालको प्राकृतिक श्रोतको शोषण धेरै तरिकाले गरेको प्रष्टिन्छ ।
Ratna Sansar Shrestha
२०७१ माघ ८ गते अन्नपूर्णा पोष्टमा प्रकाशित
तर आयोजनाको पीडीएमा हस्ताक्षर हुंदा व्यक्तिगतरुपमा उपस्थित रहेका प्रधानमन्त्री कोइरालाले बिगतमा मातृका, विश्वेश्वर तथा गिरिजा लगायतका तीन कोइराला प्रधानमन्त्रीहरुले नदी बेचे झैं आफूले राष्ट्रघात नगरेको दाबी गरेकाछन् । यस परिप्रेक्ष्यमा पीडीएका व्यवस्थाहरुको बिबेचना गर्न वान्छनिय हुन्छ ।
लोडसेडिंग निराकरण नहुने
वर्तमान अवधारणालाई गलत भन्नेहरु यो आयोजनास्थल (कर्णाली घुम्ती)मा जडित क्षमता ९ सय मेगावाट होइन ४ हजार १ सय ८० मेगावाटको पूर्ण क्षमतामा निर्माण गरेर ४ गुणा बढी बिजुली मात्र उत्पादन नगरेर जलाशयमा वर्षातको पानी संचित गरेर सुक्खायाममा खानेपानी, सिंचाई आदिको लागि उपलब्ध गरिनुपर्छ भन्ने धारणा राख्छन् र पूर्ण क्षमतामा निर्माण गरिंदा नेपाल सरकारलाई रोयल्टी समेत ४ गुणा बढी प्राप्त हुने कुरा आंैल्याउंछन् ।
कुनै पनि हालतमा बनाइनु पर्छ भन्नेहरु १२ प्रतिशत भएपनि निशुल्क प्राप्त हुने बिजुलीले नेपालको बिद्यमान लोडसेडिंगको समस्या केहि हद सम्म भएपनि निराकरण हुने तर्क गर्छन्, बिमति राख्नेहरुलाई विकास बिरोधी बिल्ला भिराएर । यस सम्बन्धमा वर्षातमा १ सय ८ मेगावाट निशुल्क प्राप्त भएपनि सुक्खायाममा १८ मेगावाट मात्र प्राप्त हुने हुनाले लोडसेडिंगको समस्या तात्विकरुपमा निराकरण नहुने कुरा पनि औंल्याइएका थिए ।
तर प्रबर्द्धकसंग भएको आयोजना विकास सम्झौता (पीडीए)को दफा १०(१४क) मा नेपाल सरकारलाई प्राप्त हुने निशुल्क बिजुली भारत निकासी गर्ने व्यवस्था छ, त्यो पनि प्रशारण शुल्क तिरेर । साथै दफा ११.१५.४ मा निकासी गर्ने जिम्मा प्रबर्द्धकलाई नैं दिने र सो बापत दलाली शुल्क तिर्ने व्यवस्था छ । त्यस्तै भारत निकासी गर्नको लागि प्रशारण संजालको व्यवस्था छ । अर्को तर्फ यसरी निशुल्क प्राप्त हुने बिजुली नेपालको कुन आन्तरिक बजारमा के कसरी उपलब्ध गरिनेछ भन्ने सम्बन्धमा पूर्णतः मौन छ र नेपालमा आपूर्तिको लागि प्रशारण संजालको व्यवस्था पनि छैन ।
त्यसकारण निशुल्क बिजुली निकासी नैं गरिने स्पष्टिन्छ र यो आयोजना निर्माण भएर नेपालको लोडसेडिंग निराकरणमा हुंदैन । यसले गर्दा घाउमा नुनचूक दलेको चरितार्थ हुनेछ र तेहोरो रुपमा राष्ट्रघात भएकोछः (१) ४ हजार मेगावाट भन्दा बढी बिद्युत उत्पादन क्षमता भएको आयोजनास्थललाई ९ सयमा सीमित गरेकोले, (२) सुक्खायाममा थप पानी उत्पादन गरेर उर्जा सुरक्षाको अलावा जल सुरक्षा तथा खाद्य सुरक्षा पनि हासिल गर्ने सम्भावनाबाट त्यस भेगका जनतालाई बंचित गरेकोले र (३) थोरै भए पनि निशुल्क प्राप्त हुने बिजुली पनि भारत निकासी गर्ने भएकोले ।
आश्चर्यजनक के छ भने पीडीएमा माथि उल्लिखित तेहोरो बाहेक अन्य तरिकाबाट पनि राष्ट्रलाई घाटा पार्ने काम भएको रहेछ, जुन निम्न प्रकरणहरुमा विश्लेषण गरिएकोछ ।
कर दैदस्तूर छूट तथा अनुदान
पीडीएको दफा ९(२) मा बिभिन्न प्रकारका वित्तिय सहुलियतहरुको व्यवस्था गरिएकोछ । जस मध्ये पहिलो हो राज्यलाई सिमन्टी जस्ता सामग्रीमा मूल्य अभिबृद्धि कर तिरे बापत प्रति मेगावाट ५० लाख रुपैया को दरले जम्मा साढे ४ अर्ब रुपैंया अनुदान । यस्तो अनुदान राष्ट्रिय प्रशारण संजालमा जोडेर नेपालको आन्तरिक मांग पूर्ति गर्ने प्रबर्द्धकलाई मात्र दिने कानूनी व्यवस्था छ । त्यस्तै सिमन्टी, छड आयात गर्दा लाग्ने भंसार महशूल पनि ५० प्रतिशत छूट दिइनेछ, जुन सुविधा नेपालको आन्तरिक खपतको लागि निर्माण हुने आयोजनाहरुलाई छैन । यो सुविधाले राज्य माथि अन्दाजि साढे ४ अर्ब रुपंैया थप भार पर्छ ।
यस अतिरिक्त यो आयोजनाले बिद्यमान कानूनमा व्यवस्था भए अनुरुप मेशिनरी उपकरण आदि पैठारी गर्दा पनि भंसार महशूल र मूल्य अभिबृद्धि कर छूट पाउनेछ, जुन अंदाजि साढे १७ अर्ब रुपैंया हुनेछ । त्यस्तै पहिलो १५ वर्ष शतप्रतिशत आयकर छूट पाउने हुनाले वार्षिक ४ अर्ब रुपैंयाको दरले आयकर छूट पाएर १० वर्षमा ४० अर्ब रुपैया र त्यस पछिको ५ वर्ष ५० प्रतिशत आयकर छूट पाएर वार्षिक २ अर्ब रुपैंयाको दरले १० अर्ब रुपैंया राज्यको कोषले गुमाउनेछ ।
यसरी नगद अनुदान तथा कर दैदस्तूर छूट समेत गरेर आयोजना प्रबर्द्धकले साढे ७६ अर्ब रुपैंयाले लाभान्वित हुनेछ । यस्तो सुविधाको कारणले राष्ट्रलाई दोहोरो घाटा हुन्छः अनुदान तथा सहुलियतको कारणले आयोजनाको उत्पादन लागत कम भएर उत्पादित बिजुली सस्तो पर्छ तर सस्तो बिजुलीबाट नेपाली उपभोक्ता बंचित हुनाको अलावा राज्यको कोषमा अनावश्यक भार पर्नाले ।
यो आयोजना विश्वकैं (नेपालमा सम्भाब्य लाखौं आयोजनाहरुमध्ये मात्र होइन) आकर्षक आयोजना भएकोले यसको निर्माण लागत ५० देखि ६० अर्ब रुपैंया मात्र लाग्छ र प्रबर्द्धकलाई राज्यले दिएको नगद अनुदान तथा कर दैदस्तूर छूटबाट मात्रै यो आयोजना सजिलै निर्माण गर्न सकिन्छ ।
अर्थात बिदेशी लगानि आकृष्ट गर्ने नाममा यो आयोजना निर्माण गर्न पुग्ने भन्दा बढी नगद अनुदान तथा कर दैदस्तूर छूट दिएर पनि राष्ट्रलाई घाटा पु¥याउने काम भएकोछ, राष्ट्रघात भएकोछ । यसबाट राज्यले नैं आवश्यक रकम परिचालन गरेर यो आयोजना निर्माण गर्न सक्ने देखिन्छ र यसको बिजुली नेपालको द्रुत आर्थिक विकासको लागि उपयोग गर्न सक्नेमा बिदेशी प्रबर्द्धकलाई पृष्ठपोषण गरेर तथा नेपालकै लागि अत्यावश्यक बिजुली भारत निकासी गर्ने व्यवस्था गरेर राष्ट्रघात गरिएकोछ ।
थप बिजुली उत्पादन
यो आयोजनाको माथिल्लो तटीय इलाकामा जलाशययुक्त आयोजना निर्माण भएमा यो आयोजनाबाट थप बिजुली उत्पादन मात्र हुन सक्ने होइन सुनिश्चित बिजुली (फर्म इनर्जि) उत्पादन पनि धेरै गुणाले बढ्नेछ । पीडीएको दफा ६.१.१(घ)मा यस्तो थप उत्पादित बिजुलीमा प्रबर्द्धकको पनि आधा हक लाग्ने व्यवस्था गरिएको छ, जुन राष्ट्रघाती काम हो । प्रबर्द्धकको टर्बाइन बढी समय चल्ने भएर बढी खिइने हद सम्मको रकम मात्र दिइनुपथ्र्यो । नेपालले डुबान र बिस्थापन भोगेर वर्षातको पानी संचित गरेर सुक्खायाममा थप पानी उपलब्ध गरिएर उत्पादन हुने बिजुली माथिको सम्पूर्ण हक नेपाल सरकारको हुनुपर्ने मात्र नभएर बढी मूल्यमा बिक्री हुने सुनिश्चित बिजुली थप उत्पादन भएको कारणले अभिबृद्धि हुने राजश्वमा पनि नेपालको हक लाग्छ । यस बिपरित थप उत्पादित बिजुलीको आधामा मात्र नेपालको हक लाग्ने व्यवस्था राष्ट्रलाई थप घाटा पार्ने षडयन्त्र हो ।
ठेकेदारको नियुक्ति
पीडीएको दफा ११(३४) मा प्रतिश्पर्धा तथा पारदर्शिता बिना ठेकदार नियुक्ति गर्ने व्यवस्था छ । यसको लागत ५० देखि ६० अर्ब रुपैंया मात्र लाग्नुपर्नेमा १ सय ४० अर्ब रुपैया लाग्ने घोषणा गरिसकेको परिप्रेक्ष्यमा बिना प्रतिश्पर्धा र पारदर्शिता ठेकेदार नियुक्ति गरेर, ठेकेदारसंग मिलेर ८० देखि ९० अर्ब रुपैंया बांडचुंडी लिने तयारी गरेको देखिन्छ ।
कार्बन ब्यापारबाट आय
यो आयोजनाबाट उत्पादित बिजुली भारत निकासी गर्दा कार्बनडाइअक्साइड वायू उत्सर्जन बिस्थापित हुन्छ, जुन बिक्री गरेर आय आर्जन गर्न सकिन्छ । पीडीएको दफा ११(३७) मा यसरी आर्जन भएको आय नेपाल सरकार र प्रबर्द्धकले बांड्ने व्यवस्था छ । नेपालले आफ्नो मुलुकमा उपयोग नगरेर भारत निकासी गर्दा हुने यस्तो आयमा नेपालको पूर्ण हक लाग्नेमा प्रबर्द्धकसंग बाँड्ने व्यवस्था राखेर पनि राष्ट्रघात गरिएकोछ ।
काबू बाहिरको परिस्थिति
अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय परिपाटी अनुसार काबू बाहिरको परिस्थितिको कारणले कुनै पनि पक्षले नोक्सानि व्यहोरेमा अर्को पक्ष जिम्मेवार नहुने प्रचलन छ । तर यो आयोजनाको पीडीएको दफा १२.५.८ मा काबू बाहिरको कारणले प्रबर्द्धकले नोक्सानि व्यहोरेको खण्डमा नेपाल सरकारले प्रबर्द्धकलाई क्षतिपूर्ति दिनुपर्ने व्यवस्था गरेर पनि राष्ट्रलाई घाटा पार्ने प्रपञ्च मिलाएकोछ ।
कानून परिवर्तनबाट उन्मुक्ति
नेपाली जनता नेपालको नागरिक भए झैं प्रबर्द्धक संस्था नेपाल राज्यमा दर्ता भएपछि नेपालको संस्थागत नागरिक बन्दछ, जसलाई मतदान गर्ने राजनैतिक अधिकार बाहेक अन्य सम्पूर्ण अधिकार तथा कर्तव्य हुन्छ । संबैधानिक व्यवस्था अनुसार कानून परिवर्तन भएर थप कर दैदस्तूर लाग्ने भएमा नेपाली नागरिकले उन्मुक्ति पाउंदैन । तर पीडीएको दफा १२क मा कानूनमा परिवर्तन भएर कर दैदस्तूरको दायित्व बृद्धि भएपनि प्रबर्द्धकले यस्तो थप दायित्वबाट उन्मुक्ति पाउने व्यवस्था गरेको पनि राष्ट्र हितमा छैन र सामान्य नागरिक प्रति बिभेद हुने गरेर यो व्यवस्थाले संबिधानले प्रत्याभूत गरको समानताको हकबाट सामान्य नागरिकलाई बंचित गरिएकोछ ।
आयोजनाको खर्च राज्यले बेहोर्ने
पीडीएमा आयोजना पुनरावलोकन कार्यदलको व्यवस्था छ र यस्तो कार्यदलको खर्च आयोजनाकै खर्च मानिने अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय मान्यता छ । तर दफा ५(५) मा यस्तो कार्यदलको खर्च नेपाल सरकारले पनि आधा ब्यहोर्ने ब्यवस्था छ, जुन युक्तिसंगत छैन । आयोजना प्रबर्द्धकले नाफा भने एकलौटी गर्ने तर आयोजना सम्बन्धी खर्च भने नेपाल सरकारले आधा ब्यहोर्नाले पनि राज्यलाई थप घाटा पर्नेछ ।
लगानि बोर्डलाई सहजिकरण शुल्क
पीडीएको दफा ११(२८) मा लगानि बोर्डलाई वार्षिक ६० लाख रुपैंया सहजिकरण शुल्क प्रबर्द्धकले भुक्तानि गर्ने व्यवस्था गरिएकोछ । नेपाल सरकाले प्रत्यक्ष तथा परोक्षरुपमा प्रबद्र्धकलाई झण्डैे १ खर्ब रुपैया भन्दा बढीले लाभान्वित गर्ने अनि लगानि बोर्डले यति थोरै रकममा दांत गाड्नु भनेको सबै छाडी टपरी मुनि हात भन्ने उक्ति चरितार्थ हुन्छ ।
राष्ट्रघात नगरेको प्रधानमन्त्रीको दाबी
माथि उल्लेख गरिए झैं धेरै किसिमले राष्ट्रलाई घाटा हुने काम गरेर पनि राष्ट्रघात गरेको छैन भनेर पानीमुनि ओभानो छुं भन्दैमा जनताले पत्याउने अवस्था छैन । ४ हजार मेगावाट भन्दा बढी क्षमताको आयोजनास्थललाई ९ सय मेगावाटमा सीमित गरेर मात्र राष्ट्रघात गरेको नभएर पीडीए गर्दा पनि नेपाली जनता, नेपालको अर्थतन्त्र तथा नेपालको प्राकृतिक श्रोतको शोषण धेरै तरिकाले गरेको प्रष्टिन्छ ।
Ratna Sansar Shrestha
२०७१ माघ ८ गते अन्नपूर्णा पोष्टमा प्रकाशित
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Did PM Koirala say that 3 previous Koirala PMs committed anti national act?
PM’s Koirala, giving an interview to Telegraph Nepal, has said that “Do not take me as one of the Koiralas who sold our rivers”. He went on to add that “I will not let antinational act to take place in the country”
His statement is hollow at best” and that is exactly what he has done.
First of all, it is astounding to hear a statement from him implying that Koirala brothers indeed “sold” Nepal’s rivers. It is surprising as it is coming from a Koirala brother himself. People firmly do believe that Matrika, BP and GP Koirala respectively did “sell” Koshi, Gandaki and Mahakali rivers and he is just corroborating that. I wonder if his brothers would turn in their respective graves in discomfort, if they were to "read" this statement.
His assertion that “I will not commit a treachery” stands contradicted by his own actions. He was instrumental in, among others, signing PDA for upper Karnali project as a RoR project with just 900 MW as installed capacity. The full potential of the site is 4,180 MW according to study conducted with World Bank loan. This is comparable to selling diamond as coal, both of which are based in carbon and found in mines. Therefore, this itself amounts to treason on his part.
The PDA also amounts to sell out of national interest as the site, if developed at full potential, would have resulted in generation of lean season augmented flow of water by 500 m3/s, which can irrigate up to 1.5 million hectares of agricultural land in lower riparian areas. This project not only would have generated 4 times more electricity but the lean season augmented flow would have ensured water security, food security and energy security. This is a clear case of betrayal of interest of our motherland, compounding his treachery.
What has come as adding insult to injury is the fact that PDA has provision in Section 10.14A for export of 12% free energy that Nepal is to be given. One of the justifications of concluding the PDA in great hurry was the possibility of receiving free energy and mitigation of load shedding partly with that energy. If 88% is exported by GMR and 12% exported by GoN, nothing will be left to reduce Nepal’s load shedding. It is clearly detrimental to Nepal’s interest.
In this backdrop his “assurance” not only has no substance but in effect he has given continuity to what 3 previous Koirala PMs did – “sell” Karnali River, which is the only river that hadn’t been “sold” off to India by his 3 previous Koirala PMs.
His statement is hollow at best” and that is exactly what he has done.
First of all, it is astounding to hear a statement from him implying that Koirala brothers indeed “sold” Nepal’s rivers. It is surprising as it is coming from a Koirala brother himself. People firmly do believe that Matrika, BP and GP Koirala respectively did “sell” Koshi, Gandaki and Mahakali rivers and he is just corroborating that. I wonder if his brothers would turn in their respective graves in discomfort, if they were to "read" this statement.
His assertion that “I will not commit a treachery” stands contradicted by his own actions. He was instrumental in, among others, signing PDA for upper Karnali project as a RoR project with just 900 MW as installed capacity. The full potential of the site is 4,180 MW according to study conducted with World Bank loan. This is comparable to selling diamond as coal, both of which are based in carbon and found in mines. Therefore, this itself amounts to treason on his part.
The PDA also amounts to sell out of national interest as the site, if developed at full potential, would have resulted in generation of lean season augmented flow of water by 500 m3/s, which can irrigate up to 1.5 million hectares of agricultural land in lower riparian areas. This project not only would have generated 4 times more electricity but the lean season augmented flow would have ensured water security, food security and energy security. This is a clear case of betrayal of interest of our motherland, compounding his treachery.
What has come as adding insult to injury is the fact that PDA has provision in Section 10.14A for export of 12% free energy that Nepal is to be given. One of the justifications of concluding the PDA in great hurry was the possibility of receiving free energy and mitigation of load shedding partly with that energy. If 88% is exported by GMR and 12% exported by GoN, nothing will be left to reduce Nepal’s load shedding. It is clearly detrimental to Nepal’s interest.
In this backdrop his “assurance” not only has no substance but in effect he has given continuity to what 3 previous Koirala PMs did – “sell” Karnali River, which is the only river that hadn’t been “sold” off to India by his 3 previous Koirala PMs.
Friday, December 26, 2014
Mahakali Water to Quench Delhi’s Thirst
Indian PM Narendra Modi recently announced that Sarada River will be linked with Yamuna to revive it, for spatial transfer of water – transferring water from Mahakali to Yamuna. It is a small part of India’s ambitious river linking scheme.
Water from Nepal in Yamuna
Actually, Mahakali River, deemed to be a border river between Nepal and India, is called Sarada in India, which flows southeast and empties into Ghaghara River (called Karnali in Nepal) near Baharaich in UP. A dam will be built at Jamarani on Mahakali River, few kilometres north of Tanakpur barrage, and water diverted by a canal heading straight west to join Yamuna.
Plight of Yamuna
Kathmanduites find Bagamati foul but fish is still found. Whereas Yamuna is in worse condition, especially due to heavy extraction of water for irrigation, domestic water supply and industrial uses in neighbourhoods like Hathnikund/Tajewala, Wazirabad, Okhla, resulting in low flow and dumping of industrial effluence without treatment
Adverse impact on Mahakali/Sarada River
After diversion of water from Mahakali, the quantum of water flowing downstream will get reduced substantially and dry season flow in Ghaghara, consequently in Ganga, will also decrease which will cause water stress in UP, India. It will also adversely impact 120 MW Tanakpur hydropower plant (presently run of river), lowering dry season generation, thereby reducing valuable firm energy.
Further, Mahakali flood also will be transferred to Yamuna. Therefore, Yamuna will be fraught with doubled flood, its own and that of Mahakali.
Hence, spatial transfer of water from Mahakali to Yamuna will make no sense: no incremental flow in dry season when needed and doubled flood in monsoon, creating havoc in southern Uttarakhand, north western UP and even Delhi.
Role of Pancheshwar Project
However, after implementation of 6,480 MW Pancheshwar multipurpose hydropower project, linking Mahakali with Yamuna will add value significantly; as reservoir will transfer water from wet season to dry season, thereby contributing more water to Ghaghara and, eventually to Ganga in dry season (with commensurate reduction in flood), notwithstanding diversion from Mahakali to Yamuna. Additionally, with Pancheshwar powerhouse generating peaking power, Tanakpur, becoming a cascade project with Pancheshwar, too will start generating not only more electricity in dry season compared to now but will start to generate peaking power (high value power) and its firm power will increase substantially.
Lean season augmented flow
Positive externalities of Pancheshwar are flood control and lean season augmented flow of 582 m3/s, benefitting both Nepal and India. However, both countries will also suffer from inundation and involuntary displacement – negative externalities.
Mahakali Treaty has stipulated that two countries are entitled to equal share of water; Nepal and India each entitled to 291 m3/s of lean season augmented flow. However, as the treaty also stipulates that Nepal will “have right to supply of 4.25 m3/s in dry season”, India will be using 286.75 m3/s of Nepal’s share and the idea of linking Yamuna with Mahakali is rooted in capturing Nepal’s share of lean season augmented flow.
However, it is against the spirit of equality enshrined in Mahakali treaty for India to take Nepal’s share free of cost. What needs to be remembered is that the lean season augmented flow will be generated by Nepal too bearing negatives externalities. It is logical for India to enjoy its share of lean season augmented flow of 291 m3/s, having borne commensurate negative externalities.
For India to use 286.75 m3/s of Nepal’s share, former will have to recompense latter based on internationally accepted principle. An example is agreement between Lesotho and South Africa, under which latter pays former at the rate of $25 million/year for 18 m3/s; at which rate India will have to pay Nepal $ 398 million (equivalent to Rs 40 billion) a year.
It is not mandatory that Nepal and India, two close neighbors, apply the rate used by two African countries. Different rate or different recompense mechanism can be worked out. However, it will not be possible for India to use Nepal’s share of Mahakali water pro bono (or by giving some free electricity like from Tanakpur) or in the lines of Koshi and Gandaki barrages, built in 50s, under which Nepal ended up internalizing negative externalities with India solely enjoying positive externalities without recompense for the former and sharing the latter.
It shouldn’t be forgotten that the proposal here is NOT for India to pay for water flowing naturally; payment is for storage of water, requiring Nepal to suffer from inundation and involuntary displacement.
Existing Consumptive Use
Nepal’s hydrocrats have opined that, as equal share of water is subject to proviso of “without prejudice to prior existing consumptive use”, India cannot be expected to recompense Nepal for the use of water “belonging to Nepal” since India’s “prior existing consumptive use” is 326 m3/s. In their opinion Nepal is entitled to only half of 256 m3/s (128 m3/s) after deducting 326 m3/s from 582 m3/s. It is natural for Indian patriots to opine as such, but it isn’t befitting those claiming to be “patriots” of Nepal.
The proviso clause is applicable for the currently obtaining situation when Mahakali is fraught with drought for more than 6 months and flood in monsoon, but not applicable for lean season augmented flow generated by suffering inundation and displacement. Huge opportunity cost is suffered due to inundation of cultivable land, forest, etc. and displacement of populace who have to be resettled. Land in Nepal gets used twice: in inundation and resettlement.
Nepal Needs no Additional water
Hydrocrats in Nepal and many Indians opine that Nepal doesn’t need 286.75 m3/s, which India plans to use, in addition to India’s half share, and a neighboring country shouldn’t make fuss about such things. It is but natural for Indians to say this. But Nepal’s hydrocrats parroting it is unbecoming. If India is to use Nepal’s share of water free of cost, then why should Nepal suffer from inundation and displacement. Best will be to tailor the dam height to generate just 8.5 m3/s lean season augmented flow and Nepal and India can share 4.25 m3/s each.
Alternative Approach
Sarada barrage was built by British India under 1920 treaty after compensating Nepal with 4,000 acres land inundated by the barrage. It can be replicated in Pancheshwar: India to compensate Nepal’s inundated land with land in India (then no recompense will be expected).
Potential and Challenge
There is potential of benefit for southern area of Uttarakhand, western UP and Delhi from temporal transfer of water after completion of Pancheshwar. However, spatial transfer will amount to extension of drought and flood.
There is a challenge too. In order for Nepal to agree to “give” her share of lean season augmented flow to India after construction of Pancheshwar reservoir, India will have to agree to share opportunity cost of negative externalities that Nepal bears and share benefit of positive externalities with Nepal that India will enjoy.
Published in Spotlight of 26th December, 2014
Water from Nepal in Yamuna
Actually, Mahakali River, deemed to be a border river between Nepal and India, is called Sarada in India, which flows southeast and empties into Ghaghara River (called Karnali in Nepal) near Baharaich in UP. A dam will be built at Jamarani on Mahakali River, few kilometres north of Tanakpur barrage, and water diverted by a canal heading straight west to join Yamuna.
Plight of Yamuna
Kathmanduites find Bagamati foul but fish is still found. Whereas Yamuna is in worse condition, especially due to heavy extraction of water for irrigation, domestic water supply and industrial uses in neighbourhoods like Hathnikund/Tajewala, Wazirabad, Okhla, resulting in low flow and dumping of industrial effluence without treatment
Adverse impact on Mahakali/Sarada River
After diversion of water from Mahakali, the quantum of water flowing downstream will get reduced substantially and dry season flow in Ghaghara, consequently in Ganga, will also decrease which will cause water stress in UP, India. It will also adversely impact 120 MW Tanakpur hydropower plant (presently run of river), lowering dry season generation, thereby reducing valuable firm energy.
Further, Mahakali flood also will be transferred to Yamuna. Therefore, Yamuna will be fraught with doubled flood, its own and that of Mahakali.
Hence, spatial transfer of water from Mahakali to Yamuna will make no sense: no incremental flow in dry season when needed and doubled flood in monsoon, creating havoc in southern Uttarakhand, north western UP and even Delhi.
Role of Pancheshwar Project
However, after implementation of 6,480 MW Pancheshwar multipurpose hydropower project, linking Mahakali with Yamuna will add value significantly; as reservoir will transfer water from wet season to dry season, thereby contributing more water to Ghaghara and, eventually to Ganga in dry season (with commensurate reduction in flood), notwithstanding diversion from Mahakali to Yamuna. Additionally, with Pancheshwar powerhouse generating peaking power, Tanakpur, becoming a cascade project with Pancheshwar, too will start generating not only more electricity in dry season compared to now but will start to generate peaking power (high value power) and its firm power will increase substantially.
Lean season augmented flow
Positive externalities of Pancheshwar are flood control and lean season augmented flow of 582 m3/s, benefitting both Nepal and India. However, both countries will also suffer from inundation and involuntary displacement – negative externalities.
Mahakali Treaty has stipulated that two countries are entitled to equal share of water; Nepal and India each entitled to 291 m3/s of lean season augmented flow. However, as the treaty also stipulates that Nepal will “have right to supply of 4.25 m3/s in dry season”, India will be using 286.75 m3/s of Nepal’s share and the idea of linking Yamuna with Mahakali is rooted in capturing Nepal’s share of lean season augmented flow.
However, it is against the spirit of equality enshrined in Mahakali treaty for India to take Nepal’s share free of cost. What needs to be remembered is that the lean season augmented flow will be generated by Nepal too bearing negatives externalities. It is logical for India to enjoy its share of lean season augmented flow of 291 m3/s, having borne commensurate negative externalities.
For India to use 286.75 m3/s of Nepal’s share, former will have to recompense latter based on internationally accepted principle. An example is agreement between Lesotho and South Africa, under which latter pays former at the rate of $25 million/year for 18 m3/s; at which rate India will have to pay Nepal $ 398 million (equivalent to Rs 40 billion) a year.
It is not mandatory that Nepal and India, two close neighbors, apply the rate used by two African countries. Different rate or different recompense mechanism can be worked out. However, it will not be possible for India to use Nepal’s share of Mahakali water pro bono (or by giving some free electricity like from Tanakpur) or in the lines of Koshi and Gandaki barrages, built in 50s, under which Nepal ended up internalizing negative externalities with India solely enjoying positive externalities without recompense for the former and sharing the latter.
It shouldn’t be forgotten that the proposal here is NOT for India to pay for water flowing naturally; payment is for storage of water, requiring Nepal to suffer from inundation and involuntary displacement.
Existing Consumptive Use
Nepal’s hydrocrats have opined that, as equal share of water is subject to proviso of “without prejudice to prior existing consumptive use”, India cannot be expected to recompense Nepal for the use of water “belonging to Nepal” since India’s “prior existing consumptive use” is 326 m3/s. In their opinion Nepal is entitled to only half of 256 m3/s (128 m3/s) after deducting 326 m3/s from 582 m3/s. It is natural for Indian patriots to opine as such, but it isn’t befitting those claiming to be “patriots” of Nepal.
The proviso clause is applicable for the currently obtaining situation when Mahakali is fraught with drought for more than 6 months and flood in monsoon, but not applicable for lean season augmented flow generated by suffering inundation and displacement. Huge opportunity cost is suffered due to inundation of cultivable land, forest, etc. and displacement of populace who have to be resettled. Land in Nepal gets used twice: in inundation and resettlement.
Nepal Needs no Additional water
Hydrocrats in Nepal and many Indians opine that Nepal doesn’t need 286.75 m3/s, which India plans to use, in addition to India’s half share, and a neighboring country shouldn’t make fuss about such things. It is but natural for Indians to say this. But Nepal’s hydrocrats parroting it is unbecoming. If India is to use Nepal’s share of water free of cost, then why should Nepal suffer from inundation and displacement. Best will be to tailor the dam height to generate just 8.5 m3/s lean season augmented flow and Nepal and India can share 4.25 m3/s each.
Alternative Approach
Sarada barrage was built by British India under 1920 treaty after compensating Nepal with 4,000 acres land inundated by the barrage. It can be replicated in Pancheshwar: India to compensate Nepal’s inundated land with land in India (then no recompense will be expected).
Potential and Challenge
There is potential of benefit for southern area of Uttarakhand, western UP and Delhi from temporal transfer of water after completion of Pancheshwar. However, spatial transfer will amount to extension of drought and flood.
There is a challenge too. In order for Nepal to agree to “give” her share of lean season augmented flow to India after construction of Pancheshwar reservoir, India will have to agree to share opportunity cost of negative externalities that Nepal bears and share benefit of positive externalities with Nepal that India will enjoy.
Published in Spotlight of 26th December, 2014
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
दिल्लीको तिर्खा मेट्न महाकालीको पानी
भारतीय प्रधानमन्त्री नरेन्द्र मोदीले हालै शारदा नदीलाई यमुना नदीमा जोड्ने घोषणा गरेका छन् । यो भारतको महत्वाकांक्षी नदी जडान आयोजनाको एउटा सानो खण्ड हो र यसो गर्दा भारतको यमुना नदीले पुनर्जीवन पाउंछ भने भारतको राजधानी दिल्ली लगायतका जनताको पानीको संकट टर्छ, तिर्खा मेट्न समेत ।
नेपालको पानी यमुनामा
वास्तवमा नेपाल भारत सीमामा अवस्थित महाकाली नदी नैं भारत प्रवेश गरेपछि शारदा नदी कहलिन्छ, जुन दक्षिण पूर्व बग्दै बहराइच नजिकै घाघरा नदीमा मिसिन्छ (नेपालको कर्णालीलाई नैं भारतमा घाघरा नामले चिनिन्छ) । टनकपुर बाँध भन्दा केहि माथि जमरानीमा अर्को बाँध निर्माण गरेर दक्षिण पूर्वतिर बगेको महाकाली नदीलाई सोझै नहरबाट पश्चिम तिर यमुना नदीमा जोड्ने प्रस्ताव हो ।
यमुना नदीको दुरावस्था
विशेष गरेर नेपालको राजधानी काठमाडौंमा बग्ने बागमती ढलमती भै सकेकोछ, तर पनि यदाकदा माछा मारेको समाचार प्रसारित हुनेगरेकोले त्यति खराब अवस्था छैन, जति यमुनाको नदी छ । बिभिन्न उद्योगहरुबाट निसृत हुने अति प्रदुषक तरल पदार्थले यमुना नदी भरिएकोछ र पानीको बहाव कम हुनाले बगाउने अवस्था पनि छैन, वर्षातमा बाढी आएको अवस्थामा बाहेक । तर पनि हथ्नीकुण्ड, वजिराबाद, दिल्लीको ओख्ला आदि स्थानहरुमा यहि नदीको पानी केहि प्रशोधन पश्चात बितरण गरिन्छ, जसले गर्दा पनि नदीमा पानीको परिमाण अत्यन्त कम छ ।
महाकाली/शारदा नदीमा दुष्प्रभाव
यसरी पानी फर्काएर यमुनामा लगेपछि महाकाली÷शारदा नदीमा बग्ने पानी ठूलो परिमाणले घट्छ र तत्काल प्रत्यक्ष प्रभाव जडित क्षमता १ सय २० मेगावाट रहेको टनकपुर जलबिद्युत आयोजनामा पर्नेछ, सुक्खायाममा हाल उत्पादन भै राखेको परिमाण भन्दा घटेर । साथै घाघरा हुंदै गंगा नदीमा सुक्खायाममा थपिने पानीको परिमाण पनि तात्विकरुपमा घट्नेछ ।
यसका साथै महाकाली/शारदा नदीमा वर्षातमा बाढी आउंदा दिल्ली शहर समेत बाढीको चपेटामा पर्नेछ । स्मरणिय छ, वर्षातमा यमुना नदीमा पनि बाढी आउनेगर्छ र महाकाली/शारदा नदीमा आएको बाढी पनि यमुनामा थपिंदा बाढीको विभिषिका ठूलै हुनेछ । समग्रमा सुक्खायाममा महाकाली÷शारदा नदीमा पनि धेरै पानीको बहाव नहुने हुनाले महाकालीको पानी यमुनामा थपिएपनि यमुना किनारका बासिन्दाले तात्विकरुपमा धेरै पानी नपाउने र वर्षातमा दोहरो बाढीको समस्या हुने हुनाले महाकाली नदीलाई यमुना नदीसंग जोड्नुको विशेष सार्थकता हुन्न ।
पञ्चेश्वर आयोजनाको भूमिका
तर महाकाली सन्धीमा उल्लिखित ६ हजार ४ सय ८० मेगावाटको जलाशययुक्त पञ्चेश्वर आयोजना निर्माण गरिएमा भने परिदृष्यमा ठूलो परिवर्तन आउनेछ । पञ्चेश्वरबाट उत्पादन हुने बिजुलीको अलावा टनकपुर आयोजनाले पनि सुक्खायाममा पूर्ण क्षमतामा उत्पादन गर्न सक्नेछ, अहिले सुक्खायाममा जडित क्षमता भन्दा कम उत्पादन भैरहेकोमा । त्यस्तै घाघरामा हाल महाकालीबाट सुक्खायाममा थपिने पानी भन्दा बढी परिमाणमा पानी घाघरामा थपिने छ र यमुनामा पानी लैजांदा पनि तात्विकरुपमा घाघरा र गंगा नदीलाई पानीको परिमाणको हिसाबले केहि फरक पर्दैन, बरु यी नदीमा पनि सुक्खायाममा थप नियन्त्रित पानी उपलब्ध हुन्छ ।
थप/नियन्त्रित पानी
ज्ञात भए अनुसार पञ्चेश्वरमा जलाशय निर्माण गरिएमा ५ सय ८२ क्युमेक (घन मिटर प्रति सेकेन्ड) थप पानी सुक्खायामामा नियन्त्रितरुपमा उपलब्ध हुनेछ, नेपाल तथा भारतीय तल्लो तटीय इलाकाहरुमा । साथै तल्लो तटीय इलाकाहरु वर्षातमा बाढी नियन्त्रणबाट पनि लाभान्वित हुनेछन् । यी लाभ प्राप्त गर्न डुबान तथा बिस्थापनको दुष्प्रभाव पनि दुवै देशका माथिल्लो तटीय इलाकाहरुले व्यहोर्न पर्नेछ ।
महाकाली सन्धीमा दुबै देशको पानी माथि आधा आधा हक लाग्ने प्रावधान हुनाले २ सय ९१क्युमेक पानीमा नेपालको हक लाग्छ भने भारतको पनि त्यत्तिकै परिमाणमा हक लाग्छ । तर उक्त सन्धीमा नेपालले ४.२५ क्युमेक मात्र पाउने व्यवस्था भएकोले नेपालको हक लाग्ने २ सय ८६.७५ क्युमेक पानी भारतले उपभोग गर्ने सम्भावना छ । वास्तवमा यहि पानीलाई नैं दृष्टिगत गरेर महाकालीको पानी यमुनामा लैजाने सोच भएको हुनुपर्छ ।
तर नेपालले पनि डुबान र बिस्थापनको दुष्प्रभाव व्यहोरेर उत्पादन गरिने थप÷नियन्त्रित पानी भारतले निशुल्क पाउने कुरा स्वीकार्य छैन (भारतले आफ्नो भागको डुबान र बिस्थापन भोगे बापत २ सय ९१ क्युमेक पानी पाउंछ नैं) । यस सम्बन्धमा लेसोथो र दक्षिण अफ्रिका बीच सम्पन्न सन्धीलाई नजीरको रुपमा लिन सकिन्छ, जसमा १८ क्युमेक पानीको लागि दक्षिण अफ्रिकाले लेसोथोलाई वार्षिक २ करोड ५० लाख डलर भुक्तानि गर्दछ । यहि नैं दर प्रयोग गर्ने हो भने भारतले नेपालको हक लाग्ने २ सय ८६.७५ क्युमेक पानी प्राप्त गरे बापत वार्षिक ३९ करोड ८३ लाख डलर (बिद्यमान दरमा झण्डै वार्षिक ४० अर्ब रुपैया) नेपाललाई भुक्तानि गर्नुपर्ने हुन्छ ।
हुन त नेपाल र भारतले अफ्रिकि मुलुकहरुले निर्धारण गरेको दर नैं प्रयोग गर्नुपर्छ भन्ने छैन र दुइ घनिष्ठ छिमेकीहरु मिलेर अरु कुनै दर पनि निर्धारण गर्न सक्नेछन् । तर नेपालको हकलाग्ने पानी भारतले निशुल्क उपभोग गर्न मिल्दैन । साथै यो पनि स्मरणिय छ कि, नेपालले प्राप्त गर्ने यो रकम बगेको पानी बापत होइन । नेपालको भूभाग डुबान तथा स्थानिय बासिन्दा बिस्थापन व्यहोर्ने गरेर पानी भण्डारण गरेबापतको हो ।
पानीको बिद्यमान उपभोग्य उपयोग
तर कतिपय नेपालका जलश्रोतबिज्ञहरुले महाकाली सन्धीमा पानीको बिद्यमान उपभोग्य उपयोगमा प्रतिकूल प्रभाव नपर्ने गरेर दुइ देशहरुको पानीमा आधा हक लाग्ने उल्लेख गरेकोेले भारतले बिद्यमान अवस्थामा ३ सय २६ क्युमेक पानी उपभोग गरिराखेकोले ५ सय ८२ क्युमेकबाट यो परिमाण कटाएर बांकी २ सय ५६ क्युमेकको आधा, अर्थात १ सय २८ क्युमेकमा मात्र नेपालको हक लाग्छ (यो भनाइ भारतीय नागरिकहरुबाट आफ्नो मुलुकको हितमा आउंदा आश्चर्यजनक हुंदैनथ्यो, तर नेपाल आमाको सन्तानले पनि यस्तो भनेको सुन्दा स्तम्भित हुने अवस्था छ) ।
त्यो पनि जलाशय नबनेको यथास्थितिको अवस्थामा यो भनाई युक्तिसंगत मान्न सकिन्छ, जब वर्षातमा बाढीले आक्रांत पार्छ र सुक्खायाममा खडेरीले । तर डुबान र बिस्थापनको लागत व्यहोरेर निर्माण गरिने जलाशयबाट उत्पादित पानीको हकमा यो कुरा लागू हुन्न । नेपालमा डुबानबाट खेतीयोग्य जमिन, वनजंगलबाट प्राप्त हुने लाभबाट नेपाल बंचित भएर तथा बिस्थापित स्थानिय बासिन्दालाई पुनर्वास गरेर सुक्खायाममा उत्पादन हुने थप÷नियन्त्रित पानीबाट नेपाललाई लाभान्वित हुनबाट बंचित पार्न मिल्दैन । हानी जति नेपाललाई र लाभ जति भारतलाई निशुल्क भन्ने जमाना अब छैन ।
नेपाललाई पानी आवश्क छैन
केहि नेपालीहरु र धेरै भारतीयहरुले नेपालको हक लाग्ने २ सय ८६.७५ क्युमेक पानी नेपाललाई आवश्यक छैन र भारतसंग भुक्तानि मागेर अनावश्यक खिचोला गर्नहुन्न भन्ने गरेको सुनिन्छ । माथि उल्लेख गरे झैं भारतीयहरुले यसो भन्नु स्वाभाविकै हो भने नेपालीहरुले यो कुराको सुगा रटान गर्नु नेपालको स्वार्थ बिपरित छ । यदि भारतले नेपालको हकको पानी निशुल्क लैजाने हो भने नेपालले किन बढी डुबान र बिस्थापन भोग्ने भन्ने प्रश्न खडा हुन्छ र नेपालको आवश्यकता पूर्ति हुने हिसाबले मात्र बाँधको उचाइ रहने गरेर आयोजना निर्माण गरिनुपर्ने हुन्छ । अर्थात नेपाललाई ४.२५ क्युमेक पानी मात्र पाउने अधिकार छ भन्ने हो भने सुक्खायममा जम्मा साँढे ८ क्युमेक पानी मात्र उत्पादन हुने र नेपाल र भारतले आधा आधा पानी उपयोग गर्ने गरेर जलाशय निर्माण गर्नुपर्ने हुन्छ ।
वैकल्पिक उपाय
माथि उल्लेख गरिए झैं नेपालको आफ्नो हकलाग्ने पानी भारतले उपयोग गरेबापत भारतले भुक्तानि नदिने हो भने शारदा बाँध निर्माणार्थ सन् १९२० मा सम्पन्न सन्धी अनुसार नेपालको डुबानमा पर्ने भूभागको सोधभर्ना भारतले आफ्नो भूभागबाट दिए जस्तै पञ्चेश्वर आयोजनामा डुबानमा पर्ने नेपालको जमिनको भारतले आफ्नो भूभागबाट सोधभर्ना नेपाललाई दिनुपर्ने हुन्छ । शारदा बाँधमा नेपालको ४ हजार एकड जमिन डुबानमा परेकोमा भारतले भारतीय भूमिबाट क्षतिपूर्ति दिएको थियो ।
सम्भावना र चुनौति
निश्चय नैं पञ्चेश्वर आयोजना निर्माण सम्पन्न भएपछि महाकाली नदी यमुना नदीसंग जोड्दा भारतको उत्तराखण्डको केहि दक्षिणि भेग, उत्तरप्रदेशको पश्चिमि भेग र राजधानी दिल्लीको खानेपानी लगायतको समस्या समाधान हुन्छ । तर पञ्चेश्वर आयोजना निर्माणपूर्व महाकालीको बाढी र खडेरीमात्र दिल्ली सम्म पु¥याउने काम हुन्छ ।
यसर्थ नेपालले डुबान र बिस्थापन लगायतका दुष्प्रभाव व्यहोरेर भारतलाई थप÷नियन्त्रित पानी उपलब्ध गराउन नेपाललाई सहमत गराउन भारतले नेपालमा पर्ने दुष्प्रभावको सोधभर्ना र भारतले नेपालको हकलाग्ने पानी उपयोग गरे बापत नेपाललाई भुक्तानि दिन भारत सहमत हनुपर्ने ठूलो चुनौति उपस्थित छ, जसको अभावमा दिल्लीका बासिन्दाले महाकालीको पानी उपभोग गर्न पाउने अवस्था छैन । बरु यथास्थितिमा महाकालीलाई यमुनासंग जोड्दा सुक्खायामको तिर्खा मेटिंदैन भने वर्षातमा बाढीको दोहरो (यमुनाको बाढीमा महाकालीको बाढी थप्दा हुने) विभिषिकाको चपेटामा भारतको राजधानी दिल्ली समेत पर्नेछ ।
२०७१ पौष २ गतेको अन्नपूर्ण पोष्टमा प्रकाशित
Ratna Sansar Shrestha
नेपालको पानी यमुनामा
वास्तवमा नेपाल भारत सीमामा अवस्थित महाकाली नदी नैं भारत प्रवेश गरेपछि शारदा नदी कहलिन्छ, जुन दक्षिण पूर्व बग्दै बहराइच नजिकै घाघरा नदीमा मिसिन्छ (नेपालको कर्णालीलाई नैं भारतमा घाघरा नामले चिनिन्छ) । टनकपुर बाँध भन्दा केहि माथि जमरानीमा अर्को बाँध निर्माण गरेर दक्षिण पूर्वतिर बगेको महाकाली नदीलाई सोझै नहरबाट पश्चिम तिर यमुना नदीमा जोड्ने प्रस्ताव हो ।
यमुना नदीको दुरावस्था
विशेष गरेर नेपालको राजधानी काठमाडौंमा बग्ने बागमती ढलमती भै सकेकोछ, तर पनि यदाकदा माछा मारेको समाचार प्रसारित हुनेगरेकोले त्यति खराब अवस्था छैन, जति यमुनाको नदी छ । बिभिन्न उद्योगहरुबाट निसृत हुने अति प्रदुषक तरल पदार्थले यमुना नदी भरिएकोछ र पानीको बहाव कम हुनाले बगाउने अवस्था पनि छैन, वर्षातमा बाढी आएको अवस्थामा बाहेक । तर पनि हथ्नीकुण्ड, वजिराबाद, दिल्लीको ओख्ला आदि स्थानहरुमा यहि नदीको पानी केहि प्रशोधन पश्चात बितरण गरिन्छ, जसले गर्दा पनि नदीमा पानीको परिमाण अत्यन्त कम छ ।
महाकाली/शारदा नदीमा दुष्प्रभाव
यसरी पानी फर्काएर यमुनामा लगेपछि महाकाली÷शारदा नदीमा बग्ने पानी ठूलो परिमाणले घट्छ र तत्काल प्रत्यक्ष प्रभाव जडित क्षमता १ सय २० मेगावाट रहेको टनकपुर जलबिद्युत आयोजनामा पर्नेछ, सुक्खायाममा हाल उत्पादन भै राखेको परिमाण भन्दा घटेर । साथै घाघरा हुंदै गंगा नदीमा सुक्खायाममा थपिने पानीको परिमाण पनि तात्विकरुपमा घट्नेछ ।
यसका साथै महाकाली/शारदा नदीमा वर्षातमा बाढी आउंदा दिल्ली शहर समेत बाढीको चपेटामा पर्नेछ । स्मरणिय छ, वर्षातमा यमुना नदीमा पनि बाढी आउनेगर्छ र महाकाली/शारदा नदीमा आएको बाढी पनि यमुनामा थपिंदा बाढीको विभिषिका ठूलै हुनेछ । समग्रमा सुक्खायाममा महाकाली÷शारदा नदीमा पनि धेरै पानीको बहाव नहुने हुनाले महाकालीको पानी यमुनामा थपिएपनि यमुना किनारका बासिन्दाले तात्विकरुपमा धेरै पानी नपाउने र वर्षातमा दोहरो बाढीको समस्या हुने हुनाले महाकाली नदीलाई यमुना नदीसंग जोड्नुको विशेष सार्थकता हुन्न ।
पञ्चेश्वर आयोजनाको भूमिका
तर महाकाली सन्धीमा उल्लिखित ६ हजार ४ सय ८० मेगावाटको जलाशययुक्त पञ्चेश्वर आयोजना निर्माण गरिएमा भने परिदृष्यमा ठूलो परिवर्तन आउनेछ । पञ्चेश्वरबाट उत्पादन हुने बिजुलीको अलावा टनकपुर आयोजनाले पनि सुक्खायाममा पूर्ण क्षमतामा उत्पादन गर्न सक्नेछ, अहिले सुक्खायाममा जडित क्षमता भन्दा कम उत्पादन भैरहेकोमा । त्यस्तै घाघरामा हाल महाकालीबाट सुक्खायाममा थपिने पानी भन्दा बढी परिमाणमा पानी घाघरामा थपिने छ र यमुनामा पानी लैजांदा पनि तात्विकरुपमा घाघरा र गंगा नदीलाई पानीको परिमाणको हिसाबले केहि फरक पर्दैन, बरु यी नदीमा पनि सुक्खायाममा थप नियन्त्रित पानी उपलब्ध हुन्छ ।
थप/नियन्त्रित पानी
ज्ञात भए अनुसार पञ्चेश्वरमा जलाशय निर्माण गरिएमा ५ सय ८२ क्युमेक (घन मिटर प्रति सेकेन्ड) थप पानी सुक्खायामामा नियन्त्रितरुपमा उपलब्ध हुनेछ, नेपाल तथा भारतीय तल्लो तटीय इलाकाहरुमा । साथै तल्लो तटीय इलाकाहरु वर्षातमा बाढी नियन्त्रणबाट पनि लाभान्वित हुनेछन् । यी लाभ प्राप्त गर्न डुबान तथा बिस्थापनको दुष्प्रभाव पनि दुवै देशका माथिल्लो तटीय इलाकाहरुले व्यहोर्न पर्नेछ ।
महाकाली सन्धीमा दुबै देशको पानी माथि आधा आधा हक लाग्ने प्रावधान हुनाले २ सय ९१क्युमेक पानीमा नेपालको हक लाग्छ भने भारतको पनि त्यत्तिकै परिमाणमा हक लाग्छ । तर उक्त सन्धीमा नेपालले ४.२५ क्युमेक मात्र पाउने व्यवस्था भएकोले नेपालको हक लाग्ने २ सय ८६.७५ क्युमेक पानी भारतले उपभोग गर्ने सम्भावना छ । वास्तवमा यहि पानीलाई नैं दृष्टिगत गरेर महाकालीको पानी यमुनामा लैजाने सोच भएको हुनुपर्छ ।
तर नेपालले पनि डुबान र बिस्थापनको दुष्प्रभाव व्यहोरेर उत्पादन गरिने थप÷नियन्त्रित पानी भारतले निशुल्क पाउने कुरा स्वीकार्य छैन (भारतले आफ्नो भागको डुबान र बिस्थापन भोगे बापत २ सय ९१ क्युमेक पानी पाउंछ नैं) । यस सम्बन्धमा लेसोथो र दक्षिण अफ्रिका बीच सम्पन्न सन्धीलाई नजीरको रुपमा लिन सकिन्छ, जसमा १८ क्युमेक पानीको लागि दक्षिण अफ्रिकाले लेसोथोलाई वार्षिक २ करोड ५० लाख डलर भुक्तानि गर्दछ । यहि नैं दर प्रयोग गर्ने हो भने भारतले नेपालको हक लाग्ने २ सय ८६.७५ क्युमेक पानी प्राप्त गरे बापत वार्षिक ३९ करोड ८३ लाख डलर (बिद्यमान दरमा झण्डै वार्षिक ४० अर्ब रुपैया) नेपाललाई भुक्तानि गर्नुपर्ने हुन्छ ।
हुन त नेपाल र भारतले अफ्रिकि मुलुकहरुले निर्धारण गरेको दर नैं प्रयोग गर्नुपर्छ भन्ने छैन र दुइ घनिष्ठ छिमेकीहरु मिलेर अरु कुनै दर पनि निर्धारण गर्न सक्नेछन् । तर नेपालको हकलाग्ने पानी भारतले निशुल्क उपभोग गर्न मिल्दैन । साथै यो पनि स्मरणिय छ कि, नेपालले प्राप्त गर्ने यो रकम बगेको पानी बापत होइन । नेपालको भूभाग डुबान तथा स्थानिय बासिन्दा बिस्थापन व्यहोर्ने गरेर पानी भण्डारण गरेबापतको हो ।
पानीको बिद्यमान उपभोग्य उपयोग
तर कतिपय नेपालका जलश्रोतबिज्ञहरुले महाकाली सन्धीमा पानीको बिद्यमान उपभोग्य उपयोगमा प्रतिकूल प्रभाव नपर्ने गरेर दुइ देशहरुको पानीमा आधा हक लाग्ने उल्लेख गरेकोेले भारतले बिद्यमान अवस्थामा ३ सय २६ क्युमेक पानी उपभोग गरिराखेकोले ५ सय ८२ क्युमेकबाट यो परिमाण कटाएर बांकी २ सय ५६ क्युमेकको आधा, अर्थात १ सय २८ क्युमेकमा मात्र नेपालको हक लाग्छ (यो भनाइ भारतीय नागरिकहरुबाट आफ्नो मुलुकको हितमा आउंदा आश्चर्यजनक हुंदैनथ्यो, तर नेपाल आमाको सन्तानले पनि यस्तो भनेको सुन्दा स्तम्भित हुने अवस्था छ) ।
त्यो पनि जलाशय नबनेको यथास्थितिको अवस्थामा यो भनाई युक्तिसंगत मान्न सकिन्छ, जब वर्षातमा बाढीले आक्रांत पार्छ र सुक्खायाममा खडेरीले । तर डुबान र बिस्थापनको लागत व्यहोरेर निर्माण गरिने जलाशयबाट उत्पादित पानीको हकमा यो कुरा लागू हुन्न । नेपालमा डुबानबाट खेतीयोग्य जमिन, वनजंगलबाट प्राप्त हुने लाभबाट नेपाल बंचित भएर तथा बिस्थापित स्थानिय बासिन्दालाई पुनर्वास गरेर सुक्खायाममा उत्पादन हुने थप÷नियन्त्रित पानीबाट नेपाललाई लाभान्वित हुनबाट बंचित पार्न मिल्दैन । हानी जति नेपाललाई र लाभ जति भारतलाई निशुल्क भन्ने जमाना अब छैन ।
नेपाललाई पानी आवश्क छैन
केहि नेपालीहरु र धेरै भारतीयहरुले नेपालको हक लाग्ने २ सय ८६.७५ क्युमेक पानी नेपाललाई आवश्यक छैन र भारतसंग भुक्तानि मागेर अनावश्यक खिचोला गर्नहुन्न भन्ने गरेको सुनिन्छ । माथि उल्लेख गरे झैं भारतीयहरुले यसो भन्नु स्वाभाविकै हो भने नेपालीहरुले यो कुराको सुगा रटान गर्नु नेपालको स्वार्थ बिपरित छ । यदि भारतले नेपालको हकको पानी निशुल्क लैजाने हो भने नेपालले किन बढी डुबान र बिस्थापन भोग्ने भन्ने प्रश्न खडा हुन्छ र नेपालको आवश्यकता पूर्ति हुने हिसाबले मात्र बाँधको उचाइ रहने गरेर आयोजना निर्माण गरिनुपर्ने हुन्छ । अर्थात नेपाललाई ४.२५ क्युमेक पानी मात्र पाउने अधिकार छ भन्ने हो भने सुक्खायममा जम्मा साँढे ८ क्युमेक पानी मात्र उत्पादन हुने र नेपाल र भारतले आधा आधा पानी उपयोग गर्ने गरेर जलाशय निर्माण गर्नुपर्ने हुन्छ ।
वैकल्पिक उपाय
माथि उल्लेख गरिए झैं नेपालको आफ्नो हकलाग्ने पानी भारतले उपयोग गरेबापत भारतले भुक्तानि नदिने हो भने शारदा बाँध निर्माणार्थ सन् १९२० मा सम्पन्न सन्धी अनुसार नेपालको डुबानमा पर्ने भूभागको सोधभर्ना भारतले आफ्नो भूभागबाट दिए जस्तै पञ्चेश्वर आयोजनामा डुबानमा पर्ने नेपालको जमिनको भारतले आफ्नो भूभागबाट सोधभर्ना नेपाललाई दिनुपर्ने हुन्छ । शारदा बाँधमा नेपालको ४ हजार एकड जमिन डुबानमा परेकोमा भारतले भारतीय भूमिबाट क्षतिपूर्ति दिएको थियो ।
सम्भावना र चुनौति
निश्चय नैं पञ्चेश्वर आयोजना निर्माण सम्पन्न भएपछि महाकाली नदी यमुना नदीसंग जोड्दा भारतको उत्तराखण्डको केहि दक्षिणि भेग, उत्तरप्रदेशको पश्चिमि भेग र राजधानी दिल्लीको खानेपानी लगायतको समस्या समाधान हुन्छ । तर पञ्चेश्वर आयोजना निर्माणपूर्व महाकालीको बाढी र खडेरीमात्र दिल्ली सम्म पु¥याउने काम हुन्छ ।
यसर्थ नेपालले डुबान र बिस्थापन लगायतका दुष्प्रभाव व्यहोरेर भारतलाई थप÷नियन्त्रित पानी उपलब्ध गराउन नेपाललाई सहमत गराउन भारतले नेपालमा पर्ने दुष्प्रभावको सोधभर्ना र भारतले नेपालको हकलाग्ने पानी उपयोग गरे बापत नेपाललाई भुक्तानि दिन भारत सहमत हनुपर्ने ठूलो चुनौति उपस्थित छ, जसको अभावमा दिल्लीका बासिन्दाले महाकालीको पानी उपभोग गर्न पाउने अवस्था छैन । बरु यथास्थितिमा महाकालीलाई यमुनासंग जोड्दा सुक्खायामको तिर्खा मेटिंदैन भने वर्षातमा बाढीको दोहरो (यमुनाको बाढीमा महाकालीको बाढी थप्दा हुने) विभिषिकाको चपेटामा भारतको राजधानी दिल्ली समेत पर्नेछ ।
२०७१ पौष २ गतेको अन्नपूर्ण पोष्टमा प्रकाशित
Ratna Sansar Shrestha
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Cooperation in Water Resources in SAARC: Potential and Challenges
As water from Nepal’s all rivers flow into Ganga in India and eventually into Bay of Bengal via Bangladesh, where she is known as Padma, Nepal is directly connected with these two SAARC member countries from the perspective of water resources. However, electricity generated from rivers of Nepal can be traded with remaining SAARC member countries, including with China.
Nepal’s contribution in River Ganga/Padma
Nepal’s rivers are important both to India and Bangladesh, which contribute 40% of annual average flow and 70% in dry season. Maybe for this very reason Nepal is renown as “rich” in water. However, only 25% of the population has access to tapped-water, who receive water for couple of hours once every 10-12 days. For the remaining people, Nepal being called rich in water is an insult. India and Bangladesh also face similar problem.
Actually Nepal isn’t rich in water; rather the countries on Ganga basin are mired in the vicious cycle of flood and drought. The rivers are flooded every monsoon (about 4 months) which causes loss of life, infrastructure and property costing hundreds of billion and hundreds of billion will be required for rehabilitation and resettlement. The region suffers drought like situation rest of the year.
During monsoon itself, there are areas where water scarcity rages due to monsoon failure. Similarly, people also suffer from, heavy monsoon or untimely (early/delayed) monsoon. In this backdrop, it is but natural for the people of this region to be “starved” of clean/potable water.
Bangladesh faces additional problems with receding flow in Padma: it has become difficult for inland navigation due to collection of sand and agricultural land is becoming uncultivable by invasion of saline water from Bay of Bengal.
Moreover, all SAARC member countries are “in the same boat” with respect to severe shortage of hydropower. Both India and Bangladesh are eager to import from Nepal, but Nepal herself is suffering from electricity crisis and hoping to import from India.
Reservoir to Mitigate
Various water related problems of Nepal, Bangladesh and India can be solved by building multipurpose projects like Koshi High Dam (3,300 MW), Sun Koshi High Dam (1,300 MW), Budhi Gandaki (1,200 MW), Upper Karnali (4,180 MW), Chisapani Karnali (10,800 MW) in Nepal and Pancheshwar (6,480 MW) at Nepal India border, etc. which will also generate high quality peaking power.
Flood Control
Flood control in downstream reaches in Nepal, India and Bangladesh is one of the most important positive externality of building reservoir projects in Nepal, due to which these countries will neither suffer damage of life, property and infrastructure and nor will have to spend on resettlement and rehabilitation.
Lean Season Augmented Flow
Another positive externality that accrues from reservoir project is lean season augmented flow; water stored in such reservoirs would be released during dry season for electricity generation, which will augment the flow in the respective rivers during dry season. Run of river (RoR) projects generate full capacity electricity during wet season and less than one-third of the installed capacity in the dry season, such that substantial part of the energy generated gets spilled for lack of commensurate demand during wet season while lower generation in dry season results in energy crisis. Whereas reservoir projects generate peaking power which is an important positive externality, requiring to spill no energy. Besides, peaking power fetches substantially higher tariff compared to from RoR, leading to energy security.
Countries on Ganga River basin are suffering from lack of clean/potable water for drinking and sanitation, resulting in sickness and absenteeism from work, entailing costly medical treatment; even untimely deaths. Ground water is used in most of the plains of these countries where high arsenic content is playing havoc with health. According to medical practitioners, country’s cost of medical treatment can be halved by the use of clean/potable water. Reservoirs will provide adequate amount of clean/potable water, helping attain water security. Besides, according to a study based on satellite data and published online in Nature today “the heartland of last century's Green Revolution lost 109 cubic kilometres of water from its Indus River plain aquifer between August 2002 and October 2008.” Constant flow of about same quantum of water in the rivers will improve watershed of the river basin and underground aquifers will also get recharged.
This region is dependent on monsoon rain for cultivation and, therefore, only one crop gets planted every year mostly (in some places groundwater is pumped up to cultivate in dry season, which is financially and economically costly). Lean season augmented flow will provide irrigation facility and multiple cropping (3 to 4 crops/year) will become possible, leading to food security and also help fishery and animal husbandry, thereby making nutritious food available cost effectively.
Inland navigation is almost nonexistent in Nepal due to flood and drought syndrome and lack of large water bodies; except in the reservoir of Kali Gandaki A project. But inland navigation becomes possible in both the reservoir and also in the downstream reaches including in India and Bangladesh such that steamers from Nepal can travel all the way through to Bay of Bengal and even into high seas – another positive externality. What is important is the fact that cost of fuel of water transportation is cheaper by more than 80% compared to surface transportation.
International Trade of Power
Hydropower is both clean and renewable and it can also be produced and switched off at a moment’s notice, which isn’t possible in the case of energy generated from other sources including nuclear. Therefore, peaking power is valuable even from the perspective of energy mix.
In this context, Nepal can export hydropower to meet peak load in the neighbouring countries and import energy generated from other sources when cheap energy is available. From this perspective, it is an achievement that SAARC Framework Agreement on Energy Cooperation was signed during 18th SAARC Summit on 27th November 2014 in Kathmandu. In the absence of such an agreement monopsony situation obtained in the power market between Nepal and India, latter being the single importer of electricity and former “captive” supplier. This agreement will free Nepal from the compulsion of exporting electricity solely to India. However, the age old cliché of “the proof of the pudding is in the eating” can go through litmus test if India would actually allow Nepal to export electricity to, for example, Bangladesh, through Indian transmission network.
Potential and Challenge
As discussed above, there are potentials aplenty for these three countries to benefit from multidimensional uses of water. But extraordinary challenges exist and the countries need to face these concertedly.
Koshi and Gandaki treaties were signed and Koshi and Gandai projects were built in Bhimnagar and Bhaisalotan respectively in 1950s. During that time moon was promised to people of Nepal but nothing materialized in last 5 decades. Nepal suffers from inundation and involuntary displacement (the negative externalities) due to these projects, while India is reaping benefit from flood control and of irrigation (the positive externalities) solely. It will not be possible to replicate this modality anymore.
Proper economic assessment of benefits from flood control and multidimensional uses of lean season augmented flow like water security, food security, navigation, watershed improvement and cost of negative externalities of submergence and involuntary displacement will have to be made and the country suffering from negative externalities will have to be recompensed by the countries benefitting from positive externalities. These countries can emulate Columbia Treaty between Canada and US or Treaty on Lesotho Highlands Waters Project between Lesotho and South Africa.
Sapta Koshi High Dam
For example if high dam is built on Koshi river, 13 billion cubic meter water can be stored but will inundate 196 square kilometer of Nepal’s cultivable land and forest, thereby submerging one airport, some road, 19 bridges and also displacement of about 100,000 people. This project can generate 3,300 MW power and will control flood in both India and Bangladesh and will provide water to irrigate 1 million hectares of land there.
It is estimated to cost $2 billion and will require $500 million equity, which can be contributed by these three countries and $1.5 billion debt. The electricity generated can be traded in SAARC region at international commercial rate and the equity holders can share dividend in proportion to their equity investment.
By using the formula enshrined in Lesotho treaty, India and Bangladesh will have to recompense GoN by $300 million/year for the positive externalities that will accrue to these countries and negative externalities that Nepal will suffer. However, the rate and amount of recompense can be fixed by negotiation and there is no need to exactly copy the practices of other countries. Moreover, as Nepal would be helping generate/provide lean season augmented flow to both India and Bangladesh, it will be a pre-condition for building these projects to afford inland navigation to landlocked Nepal with access to open sea.
Guarantee of Cooperation
Currently, India is showing inclination to build projects in Nepal in the lines of Koshi and Gandaki projects, neither providing recompense for negative externalities to Nepal, nor sharing positive externalities with Nepal, but giving some “free” electricity. However, this modus operandi isn’t acceptable to Nepali people anymore. Recompense has to be provided for negative externalities and sharing positive externalities based on internationally accepted principles is sine qua non.
Published in People’s Review of 4th December, 2014.
Nepal’s contribution in River Ganga/Padma
Nepal’s rivers are important both to India and Bangladesh, which contribute 40% of annual average flow and 70% in dry season. Maybe for this very reason Nepal is renown as “rich” in water. However, only 25% of the population has access to tapped-water, who receive water for couple of hours once every 10-12 days. For the remaining people, Nepal being called rich in water is an insult. India and Bangladesh also face similar problem.
Actually Nepal isn’t rich in water; rather the countries on Ganga basin are mired in the vicious cycle of flood and drought. The rivers are flooded every monsoon (about 4 months) which causes loss of life, infrastructure and property costing hundreds of billion and hundreds of billion will be required for rehabilitation and resettlement. The region suffers drought like situation rest of the year.
During monsoon itself, there are areas where water scarcity rages due to monsoon failure. Similarly, people also suffer from, heavy monsoon or untimely (early/delayed) monsoon. In this backdrop, it is but natural for the people of this region to be “starved” of clean/potable water.
Bangladesh faces additional problems with receding flow in Padma: it has become difficult for inland navigation due to collection of sand and agricultural land is becoming uncultivable by invasion of saline water from Bay of Bengal.
Moreover, all SAARC member countries are “in the same boat” with respect to severe shortage of hydropower. Both India and Bangladesh are eager to import from Nepal, but Nepal herself is suffering from electricity crisis and hoping to import from India.
Reservoir to Mitigate
Various water related problems of Nepal, Bangladesh and India can be solved by building multipurpose projects like Koshi High Dam (3,300 MW), Sun Koshi High Dam (1,300 MW), Budhi Gandaki (1,200 MW), Upper Karnali (4,180 MW), Chisapani Karnali (10,800 MW) in Nepal and Pancheshwar (6,480 MW) at Nepal India border, etc. which will also generate high quality peaking power.
Flood Control
Flood control in downstream reaches in Nepal, India and Bangladesh is one of the most important positive externality of building reservoir projects in Nepal, due to which these countries will neither suffer damage of life, property and infrastructure and nor will have to spend on resettlement and rehabilitation.
Lean Season Augmented Flow
Another positive externality that accrues from reservoir project is lean season augmented flow; water stored in such reservoirs would be released during dry season for electricity generation, which will augment the flow in the respective rivers during dry season. Run of river (RoR) projects generate full capacity electricity during wet season and less than one-third of the installed capacity in the dry season, such that substantial part of the energy generated gets spilled for lack of commensurate demand during wet season while lower generation in dry season results in energy crisis. Whereas reservoir projects generate peaking power which is an important positive externality, requiring to spill no energy. Besides, peaking power fetches substantially higher tariff compared to from RoR, leading to energy security.
Countries on Ganga River basin are suffering from lack of clean/potable water for drinking and sanitation, resulting in sickness and absenteeism from work, entailing costly medical treatment; even untimely deaths. Ground water is used in most of the plains of these countries where high arsenic content is playing havoc with health. According to medical practitioners, country’s cost of medical treatment can be halved by the use of clean/potable water. Reservoirs will provide adequate amount of clean/potable water, helping attain water security. Besides, according to a study based on satellite data and published online in Nature today “the heartland of last century's Green Revolution lost 109 cubic kilometres of water from its Indus River plain aquifer between August 2002 and October 2008.” Constant flow of about same quantum of water in the rivers will improve watershed of the river basin and underground aquifers will also get recharged.
This region is dependent on monsoon rain for cultivation and, therefore, only one crop gets planted every year mostly (in some places groundwater is pumped up to cultivate in dry season, which is financially and economically costly). Lean season augmented flow will provide irrigation facility and multiple cropping (3 to 4 crops/year) will become possible, leading to food security and also help fishery and animal husbandry, thereby making nutritious food available cost effectively.
Inland navigation is almost nonexistent in Nepal due to flood and drought syndrome and lack of large water bodies; except in the reservoir of Kali Gandaki A project. But inland navigation becomes possible in both the reservoir and also in the downstream reaches including in India and Bangladesh such that steamers from Nepal can travel all the way through to Bay of Bengal and even into high seas – another positive externality. What is important is the fact that cost of fuel of water transportation is cheaper by more than 80% compared to surface transportation.
International Trade of Power
Hydropower is both clean and renewable and it can also be produced and switched off at a moment’s notice, which isn’t possible in the case of energy generated from other sources including nuclear. Therefore, peaking power is valuable even from the perspective of energy mix.
In this context, Nepal can export hydropower to meet peak load in the neighbouring countries and import energy generated from other sources when cheap energy is available. From this perspective, it is an achievement that SAARC Framework Agreement on Energy Cooperation was signed during 18th SAARC Summit on 27th November 2014 in Kathmandu. In the absence of such an agreement monopsony situation obtained in the power market between Nepal and India, latter being the single importer of electricity and former “captive” supplier. This agreement will free Nepal from the compulsion of exporting electricity solely to India. However, the age old cliché of “the proof of the pudding is in the eating” can go through litmus test if India would actually allow Nepal to export electricity to, for example, Bangladesh, through Indian transmission network.
Potential and Challenge
As discussed above, there are potentials aplenty for these three countries to benefit from multidimensional uses of water. But extraordinary challenges exist and the countries need to face these concertedly.
Koshi and Gandaki treaties were signed and Koshi and Gandai projects were built in Bhimnagar and Bhaisalotan respectively in 1950s. During that time moon was promised to people of Nepal but nothing materialized in last 5 decades. Nepal suffers from inundation and involuntary displacement (the negative externalities) due to these projects, while India is reaping benefit from flood control and of irrigation (the positive externalities) solely. It will not be possible to replicate this modality anymore.
Proper economic assessment of benefits from flood control and multidimensional uses of lean season augmented flow like water security, food security, navigation, watershed improvement and cost of negative externalities of submergence and involuntary displacement will have to be made and the country suffering from negative externalities will have to be recompensed by the countries benefitting from positive externalities. These countries can emulate Columbia Treaty between Canada and US or Treaty on Lesotho Highlands Waters Project between Lesotho and South Africa.
Sapta Koshi High Dam
For example if high dam is built on Koshi river, 13 billion cubic meter water can be stored but will inundate 196 square kilometer of Nepal’s cultivable land and forest, thereby submerging one airport, some road, 19 bridges and also displacement of about 100,000 people. This project can generate 3,300 MW power and will control flood in both India and Bangladesh and will provide water to irrigate 1 million hectares of land there.
It is estimated to cost $2 billion and will require $500 million equity, which can be contributed by these three countries and $1.5 billion debt. The electricity generated can be traded in SAARC region at international commercial rate and the equity holders can share dividend in proportion to their equity investment.
By using the formula enshrined in Lesotho treaty, India and Bangladesh will have to recompense GoN by $300 million/year for the positive externalities that will accrue to these countries and negative externalities that Nepal will suffer. However, the rate and amount of recompense can be fixed by negotiation and there is no need to exactly copy the practices of other countries. Moreover, as Nepal would be helping generate/provide lean season augmented flow to both India and Bangladesh, it will be a pre-condition for building these projects to afford inland navigation to landlocked Nepal with access to open sea.
Guarantee of Cooperation
Currently, India is showing inclination to build projects in Nepal in the lines of Koshi and Gandaki projects, neither providing recompense for negative externalities to Nepal, nor sharing positive externalities with Nepal, but giving some “free” electricity. However, this modus operandi isn’t acceptable to Nepali people anymore. Recompense has to be provided for negative externalities and sharing positive externalities based on internationally accepted principles is sine qua non.
Published in People’s Review of 4th December, 2014.
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