As per the Nepalese constitution, the Mahakali Treaty had to be endorsed by the parliament. Accordingly, when it was introduced, it was passed by over two thirds majority of the parliament members in 1996.

In Nepal’s history, the signing of the Mahakali Treaty in 1996 was perhaps the only occasion when Nepal had demonstrated rare boldness to move  forward towards economic nationalism. All the major political parties in Nepal
including the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Nepal Sadbhavana Party supported the Treaty as they all found it in Nepal’s best interest.

Moreover, the CPN-UML was fractured when certain factions within the party could not reconcile with the stand of the party in regard to Mahakali Treaty. But the important thing was that the party did not give up its stand to demonstrate its solidarity with other political parties in supporting the Treaty. It was not a small event that a national political party like CPN-UML remained firm on the issue of the Treaty at the cost of party division.

Even the media, intelligentsia, academicians, civil society groups and political activists from various political parties are on record to have supported the Mahakali deal. The opposition to the Treaty was only from a few both within and outside the parliament.

What was there in the Mahakali Treaty that united most of the Nepalese and political forces together? Under the Treaty provision, the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project was to be constructed on the stretch of Mahakali, the boundary river between Nepal and India as there was provision for equal entitlement in the utilization of the waters. As per the Treaty, Nepal and India agreed to “have equal entitlement in the utilization of the waters of the Mahakali River without prejudice to their respective existing consumptive uses of the waters of the Mahakali River.”

Besides, the Treaty was based on the principle that the cost of the project would be borne by the respective countries on the basis of benefits in the form of irrigation and flood control. Section 3 of Article 3 of the Treaty clearly stipulated that the “cost of the Project shall be borne by the Parties in proportion to the benefits accruing to them.”

Because of the above provisions, Nepal made a claim for 8,000 cusecs of water in the Mahakali river out of the total excess water of 16,000 cusecs. Of the 8,000 cusecs of water in Nepal’s share, the maximum that country could use was 4,000 cusecs to irrigate the entire 930,000 hectares of land of Kailali and Kanchanpur districts. In such a case, Nepal made a provision to allow India to use the extra 4,000 cusecs of water with the condition that it would have to seek fewer loans and India would have to invest more amounts in the project, which many believe was in Nepal’s national interest.

With a view to implementing the Project, the two countries agreed to jointly prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) within six months. But nothing tangible developed during the last 13 years until Nepal and India signed a pact recently to set up Pancheshwor Development Authority (PDA). It is this body that is expected to commission the Pancheshwor Multipurpose Project, which is the most important factor in the Treaty.

Ostensibly, the above breakthrough was made in regard to the Mahakali Treaty due to more accommodative provisions of Nepali concerns as compared to any of the past such agreements with India. India has agreed to establish PDA office in Nepal’s Mahendranagar and not in any other place in India. Besides, the Chief Executive Officer for the PDA would be selected through open competition from among Nepali and Indian candidates. There would also be equal number of staff in PDA from both these countries.

Though late, it is at the most opportune time that Nepal and India have realized that they need to do something tangible towards harnessing water resources from Mahakali river for the integrated development of hydropower, irrigation and flood control. It is likely that the project would help produce six times more power for Nepal alone than what the country is producing today. With the access of so much of power, Nepal’s agricultural, industrial, service and other sectors are likely to get life-blood. We would no more be a country begging for power. We would rather be one that could bargain even with strength if at all we decide in future to sell the extra power.

Dr. Jha is Professor of Economics & Executive Director, CETSSource: The Himalayan Times

After the restoration of democracy, it was the National Water Resources Strategy (NWRS) followed by the National Water Plan (NWP) that provided a concrete strategy and action plan for efficient and effective use of our country’s water resources. After spending millions of dollars and almost a decade of study by probably the best brains in this sector, the strategy offered a roadmap to development in the water resources sector for social and economic progress of the nation. The NWRS/NWP had categorized hydropower development, among others, into three subcategories:

Short-term goal: Generation of 700 MW of hydroelectricity by 2007. Medium-term goal: Generation of 2,035 MW of hydroelectricity by 2017. Long-term goal: Generation of 4,000 MW of hydroelectricity by 2027. It must be noted, however, that these goals were not just raw commitments. The NWP provided a detailed action plan along with project portfolios for meeting each of the goals within the stipulated timeframe. By 2008, there came a new 10-year commitment from the Maoist-led government. When the NWP had not been disowned, i.e., its mandate was still active, making a new commitment without meeting the goals set forth by the previous strategy was by far a misplaced step. The new government is one move ahead in making the same error that the previous government made.

It must be noted that though the leaders may change, and with them their commitments, there are some who remain the same —the experts. Be it the experts who drafted the NWP or the Somnath Committee which drafted the action plan for 10,000 MW, and the would-be committee that would probably draft the 25,000 MW plan; the people who work on it are the same and so are the suggestions put forth by them. So it would have been wise to follow in the footsteps of the previous government and continue the development work where they had left off instead of shelving everything that came before and start from scratch.

The previous government should have stuck to the NWP, and so should this coalition government. It would be deserving of applause if that 4,000 MW goal set by the NWP was met in say five years before announcement of the 10,000 MW in 10 years or anything like that. Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that he was inspired by the way Muhammad Mahathir developed Malaysia and would follow the same model here. The secret, according to Mahathir himself, is that when he needed to make any decision, he always consulted with his panel of experts and acted accordingly. So if we are really inspired by the model of Mahathir and wish to follow suit, the experts must be consulted on every matter, and their advice must be heeded.

Moreover, there is an indispensable aspect to Nepal’s hydropower development —India. It has been realized that active participation of public/private enterprises is essential for the development of hydropower in Nepal, and I need not elaborate anything on that. During his Aug. 18-22 visit to India, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal expressed commitment to generate 25,000 MW in 20 years and sought the active participation of India’s private and public sectors in investment on this front (Joint Press Statement, Article 29). Such commitments made by a head of government is a national commitment. So, when seen from the Indian viewpoint, the national stance on the issue should be the same. It should not be 10,000 MW then, 25,000 MW now and maybe 30,000 MW later.

It would have provided an assurance to potential investors if the prime minister had expressed his support to the previous commitment and pledged to continue on the trail that has been laid. For instance, during the last power summit, we went to great pains to convince investors about our commitment and enthusiasm to meet the 10-year goal. During a televised interview, Indian State Minister for Energy and Commerce Jairam Ramesh expressed his solidarity, enthusiasm and anticipation for achieving this goal. Now when the next power summit will be held, how are we going to convince potential investors that this goal too will not be shelved by the next government in favour of its own agenda?

The issue of national development must be a common agenda for all parties. The political ideologies may differ, but when it comes to the issue of development, there must be one viewpoint of the entire political fraternity. For example, in a relay race, the race cannot be continued without passing the baton to the next player; similar is the case with national development: There can be no progress unless the successor takes on the national commitments made by the predecessor.

Lastly, I would like to quote John F. Kennedy who said, “One who solves the problem of water is worth two Nobel prizes; one for peace and one for science.” It’s been over three decades since Kennedy expressed his view over the gravity of the problem related to water. However, it seems that our leaders still consider it child’s play. The problems related to water are multidimensional —economic, social and political. Even the immediate cause of World War II was related to water —the issue of access to the Polish Shipping Corridor.

In our case, the problems range from economic (finding investors) and social (rehabilitating project-affected families) to political (ties with neighbouring countries; especially India). So it would be wise if our leaders understood the gravity of the issues surrounding the proper use of our water resources before blurting out new slogans time and again. Since the restoration of democracy, the pace of development has been basically sluggish. There have been too many commitments, but the number of commitments that have been met can be counted on the fingers of the hand. As far as hydropower development is concerned, progress has been almost stagnant. So, if we are to reach somewhere, progress must be made, even if it is slow. When development issues are in question, our motto should be “Go slow but go always”. For now, we’ve all talked the talk. So maybe, it’s now time to walk the walk.

The Kathmandu Post

What sorts of changes the projects- Pancheshwor and West Seti, capable enough to change the face of Nepal, could bring in the condition of  far-west region which is facing the problems of scarcity and backwardness due to the disregard and discrimination of the state, it is needless to describe. All the possibilities are being set aside in the name of ‘transitional phase’ while India, confronting extreme challenges of irrigation and scarcity of 15 thousand Megawatt in its North and West-North Regions,  had at last reached the mood of taking advantage of Mahakali Treaty. The process of West Seti, active from about two decades ago, has been obstructed and is being made uncertain by creating various obstacles.

The subject would be different if the far-west region, with the most cultivated and plentiful possibilities, had been curtailed from the usage of its resources and its potentialities to consume only by the attitudes of Kathmandu to view and behave the far-west region. But the main problem is the slave mentality of the people who represents far-west regions. It is depressing scenario that no-one, whether they are the people who constructed magnificent buildings by winning the votes of far-west or the people who introduced themselves ‘of being far-west’ whenever they have to obtain opportunity, never spoke on the topic while Pancheshwor and West Seti were being attacked in the name of so-called national concerns.

In politics to bureaucracy and technology to trade-business, in today’s national scenario, people born-grown in far-west region have influential presentations. According to the calculation of working periods, Lokendra Bahadur Chand and Sher Bahadur Deuba of the region became prime minister for half dozen occasions. Far-west has been securing well and powerful ministries in every cabinet reshuffle. Representing only 8 per cent of the country’s total population, far-western people in the police and military services have notable numbers of officers with high ranks and supreme posts. In bureaucracy too, people representing far-west region are densely present even in secretary level of the state. From the constitutional bodies to corporations, far-west has been producing and sending numbers of experts with leading levels.

But, due to the noise pollution of Kathmandu, light of the power and passive humiliation, veterans licking shares of far-west know nothing more than founding ‘bargaining’ forums for the sake of far-west. Because of the people who erect building in Kathmandu by their straight-curved ways of earnings and their disappearing like once in a blue moon, far-west has been restricted from the possibilities of the immediate and pipeline projects- Pancheshwor and West Seti. The queue might be in secret preparation to obtain high ranks and influential roles in the projects for the days ahead but now they are also remained in the participation of the possibility-termination-game.

Without caring reasonable extents and natural negotiation and demonstrating artificial concerns over the so-called nationalism and nation, actions are being performed according to the grand design of keeping all possibilities of far-west in shadow. Nationalism cannot be defined forcefully. If flexibility in conscience and relavity in its quality are not the defined in nationalism, it will rather take place of blind nationalism. The matter of using West Seti and Mahakali rivers is being gradually held by nationalism and thoughtless concerns over the nation. 

West Seti after constucting the project with the costs of about 300 billion and after earning the same amount in 25 years, it will fill up the project for the national asset. There will be different income calculation of the project after 25 years when it comes under the ownership of the government. But the game is being performed in Kathmandu with the intention of making far-west people eat only the fish of Seti river for 25 years. Similarly, on the other side, water of Mahakali is flowing down continously. Every  year, water with the value of more than 50 billion is going to waste. The people, without the capability of arranging irrigation for 10 Bigha land, are echoing their slogans of half water resources from their stay in Kathmandu.

It is not the ill-intension of make them looted or present their everything. It must be ensured the rights and entitlements of Nepal to West Seti and Mahakali. But in the name of doing the same, the attitude of creating problems after problems and intentionally hesitating to show the flexibility of reasonable extents is bad. The latter question raised by the Account Committe is reasonable. West Seti should be run under the laws of Nepal and Nepal should not be forced to replace for the obstructions which might come due to the transitional phase. Problem has not created by Account Committee but by the so-called environmentalists and nationalists’ negative mentality. Those who do not have greed for the river water flowing vainly but have concerns over the unreleased electricity. Which is good- producing 80 Megawatt electricity from separate powerhouse and selling 750 MW electricity to India or water of Seti river going to waste for three decades more from now?

Let’s move Pancheshwor forward if we want to switch electricity in the daytime too. Let’s consume 3500 MW electricity of our part and switch the power for 24 hours. Let them allow to sell the electricity to India excluding 80 MW. These statements is to say- learn to focus on the positive aspects of the possibilities, developments should be made multi-dimensional. Either Nepal should be clear to buy the electricity produced by West Seti or the government itself should be able to make such projects. Private sector should also come in front. What will be the meaning for not giving alternatives and only bursting weep and cry? What is the guarantee that SMEC will wait for 50 years more? Or SMEC is not liked? Shall we start to calculate the amount of water going to waste from Seti river during this very point of opaque possiblities created by the plentiful problems and obstacles?

Ecologically positive and effective resettlement plan are not the only attraction of West Seti. The increment of economic activities in far-west along with the construction of the project is also enticing issue. People dying of starvation are not noticed, but the concerns over the habitat of the river’s fish ! Not a sign of sympathy for the people of basin area including Thalara after seeing their wretchedness, spreading the word of cultural displacement ? Without the capability of producing any single Watt electricity and aborting the possibilities of free of costs 80 MW power-house and entrance of millions  rupees annually in the country? What the anti-West Seti groups has been trying to prove, it is difficult to understand.

Similarly, on the other side, it is difficult to understand the equal rights advocates of Mahakali river. In Pancheshwor project, Nepal’s investment is set to 39 per cent, but the demand of electricity and water is of fifty-fifty ! Advocates of equality should be able to say clearly- Nepal will also invest in 50 per cent ratio and make fifty-fifty as its part not only electricity but also in the case of water. How can one be ascertain for the use of conscience while they forget the universal principle of ‘return according to the investment’ and demand equal rights? And it is ridiculus attitude to say Mahakali is common river in one time and for the next time to see the conspiracy when India tries to use it. If Nepal move forward with the plan to use the half water of the Mahakali river, there will be a development of different movement. It would be better to know the capabilities to make 3 KM canal within 13 years to bring the part of our 1000 Q/Sec water from Tanakpur. Isn’t it obvious that India said ‘No’ when asked to make a canal to bring us water from Tanakpur?  It is being frightened the people by showing the huge amount of 135 billion US dollar to invest in Pancheshwor from the side of Nepal and converting all the possibilities of the usage of Mahakali river into shadow. How it will be if those concerned people of Mahakali river attempt in the campaign of collecting that amount? Dozens financial companies of the world will be ready to invest in the projects of certain returns.That big amount certainly as equal as the Nepal’s budgets for 25 years. But, Pancheshwor is not the matter to be built in a single night.It takes at least ten years and during this period, fund raising initiatives can be taken for this project as the national mission. What the planning officials of Kathmandu sitting inside the magnificent and air-conditioned chambers can do for this issue, people should understand. There is no reason to hesitate while blaming that the investment raising issue is guided by the ill-intention of stopping the usage of Mahakali to abort the Pancheshwor project because there is no single work accomplished to search the potentiality of the investment.

And there is lack of writers to write for the two projects- Pancheshwor and West Seti. Opponents are raising controversy in an unnatural level. This is happening because there will be chance of being notoriously renowned by the title of treacherous of the nation if spoken for the project while strong voices are casting shadow on the positive aspects of these projects. But, truth is always truth. The projects related to India have been attacked by not only the empty nationalism but also by political egotism. As Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal had spoken earlier, we should have to search the market of water  resources in the neghboring countries until the microwave technology will not be invented to produce electricity. India is the biggest nearby Market because Nepal is landlocked in three direction of India. Not realizing such realities, whether it be in rage of declining the government or in the relation of petro-mafia, it is improper to throw the positive aspects of possibilities in the dust-bin.

West Seti and Pancheshwor, at first, should be viewed by the vision of far-westerners. Had it been opened the blindfold on the eyes of far-westerners residing in Kathmandu, the door of possibilities would have been easily opened. Unfortunately, even people with posts, influence and access are not being able to postmortem the play which is being performed in the name of nation and nationalism with empty but ill-intentioned obstacles. Now nationalism should be practical, the concerns of nation should be focused on scarcity and meagerness and should be talked about West Seti and Mahakali rivers with the same viewpoints.
 
(Bhandari is  Mahendranagar based journalist)Note: The write-up is unofficial translation from the original write-up carried by the Kantipur daily earlier. The translation was done for wider-circulation aim international audience/readers.

नेपालकै मुहार फेर्न सक्ने पञ्चेश्वर र पश्चिम सेतीले राज्यको उपेक्षा र भेदभावका कारण अभाव र पछ्यौटेपनको दुर्दशा भोगिरहेको सुदूरपश्चिमको अवस्थामा कस्तो परिवर्तन ल्याउन सक्लान् व्याख्या गरिरहनु नपर्ला । उत्तराखण्ड र पश्चिमी उत्तर प्रदेशमा सिँचाइको प्रचण्ड समस्या र करिब १५ हजार मेगावाटको विद्युत् कमी भोग्दै गरेको भारत बल्ल महाकाली सन्धिको फाइदा लिने मुडमा पुगेको बेला ‘संक्रमण काल’ भन्दै सबै सम्भावनाहरूलाई टार्ने काम गरिंँदै छ । झन्डै दुई दशकदेखि प्रक्रियामा रहेको पश्चिम सेतीलाई नानाथरीका अडङ्गा तेस्र्याएर अनिश्चित बनाउने काम भइरहेको छ ।

देशको सबैभन्दा उर्बर र धेरै सम्भावनाहरू विद्यमान भएको सुदूरपश्चिमलाई हेर्ने र व्यवहार गर्ने काठमाडौंको प्रवृत्तिले मात्रै संसाधनहरूको दोहन र उपयोगका सम्भावनाहरूबाट वञ्चित गराएको भए कुरा अर्कै हुने थियो । मुख्य समस्या त सुदूरपश्चिमको प्रतिनिधित्व गर्नेहरूको दास मनोवृत्ति हो । पञ्चेश्वर र पश्चिम सेती कथित राष्ट्रवाद र राष्ट्रिय चिन्ताको शिकार हँुदै गर्दा पनि सुदूरपश्चिमका भोटबाट जितेर काठमाडौंमा महल बनाएकाहरूदेखि अवसर लिंँदा आफूलाई ‘सुदूरपश्चिमको मान्छे’ भनाउनेहरूसम्म कसैले चुइँक्क नबोलेको दृश्य उदेकलाग्दो छ ।

राजनीतिदेखि नोकरशाहीसम्म, प्रविधिदेखि व्यापार व्यवसायसम्म आज राष्ट्रिय परिदृश्यमा सुदूरपश्चिममा जन्मेका हुर्केकाहरूको प्रभावशाली उपस्थिति छ । कार्यकालको हिसाबले लोकेन्द्रबहादुर चन्द र शेरबहादुर देउवा आधा दर्जन पटक प्रधानमन्त्री भए । हरेक पटकको पुनर्गठनमा सुदूरपश्चिमले राम्रै र शक्तिशाली मन्त्रालयहरू पाउने गर्छ । देशको कुल जनसंख्याको करिब आठ प्रतिशत मात्रै जनतामध्येबाट प्रहरी र सेनाका सर्वोच्च र उपल्ला ओहदामा बस्ने सुदूरपश्चिमेलीहरूको संख्या उल्लेखनीय छ । नोकरशाहीमा सचिवस्तरमै पनि सुदूरपश्चिमलाई भजाउनेहरूको बाक्लो उपस्थिति रहँदै आएको छ । संवैधानिक निकायदेखि संस्थानहरूसम्म पनि सुदूरपश्चिमले नेतृत्व तहका थुप्रै हस्तीहरू पैदा गरेर पाठइरहेको छ ।

तर, काठमाडौंको कोलाहल, सत्ताको उज्यालो र हीनताबोधको सुसुप्तताले गर्दा सुदूरपश्चिमको भाग चाट्ने हस्तीहरू सुदूरपश्चिमको हितमा भन्दै ‘बार्गेनिङ’ गर्ने मञ्चहरू गठन गर्नेबाहेक अरू काम जान्दैनन् । सोझो-घुमाउरो अनेक बाटोबाट आर्जन गरेको धनले काठमाडौंमा महल खडा गरेपछि औंसीको जुन हुनेहरूकै कारण आज सुदूरपश्चिमले तत्काल सतहमा आएका पञ्चेश्वर र पश्चिम सेतीको सम्भावनाबाट वञ्चित हुनुपरेको छ । भोलि ती परियोजनामा ठूला पद र प्रभावशाली भूमिका खोज्नेहरूको भित्रभित्रै लाम तयार भइरहेको होला तर अहिले उनीहरू पनि सम्भावना तुहाउने खेलका मतियार बनेर बसेका छन् ।

मुनासिब हद र स्वाभाविक मोलतोललाई समेत पर्वाह नगरी तथाकथित राष्ट्रवाद र राष्ट्रप्रतिको नक्कली चिन्ताको प्रदर्शन गर्दै सुदूरपश्चिमका तमाम सम्भावनाहरूलाई ओझेलमा राखिरहने ग्राण्ड डिजाइनअनुसार काम भइरहेको छ । राष्ट्रियता जडवत रूपमा परिभाषित हुँदैैन । त्यसको परिभाषामा विवेकपूर्ण लचकता भएन र सापेक्षता त्यसको चरित्र भएन भने अन्ध राष्ट्रवादले ठाउँ लिन्छ । पश्चिम सेती र महाकाली नदीको उपयोगको सवाललाई क्रमशः अन्ध राष्ट्रवाद र राष्ट्रप्रतिको विवेकहीन चिन्ताले गाँज्दै लगेको देखिन्छ ।

करिब तीन खर्बको लागतमा निर्माण हुने पश्चिम सेतीले २५ वर्षमा त्यति नै कमाएर राष्ट्रिय ढुकुटीमा भर्ने छ । २५ वर्षपछि सरकारको स्वामित्वमा आएपछिको आयको हिसाब छुट्टै छ । तर, अबका २५ वर्ष सुदूरपश्चिमका जनताले सेतीका माछा खाएर बसुन् भन्ने मनसायका साथ काठमाडौंमा खेल चलिरहेको छ । उता, महाकालीको पानी बगेको बग्यै छ । हरेक वर्ष ५० अर्बभन्दा धेरैको पानी खेर गइरहेको छ । १० बिघा जग्गालाई सिंच्ने कुलो पनि बनाउन नसक्ने हुती भएकाहरू काठमाडौंमा बसेर आधा पानीको नारा गुञ्जाइरहेका छन् ।

लुटाइदिनुपर्छ वा सर्वस्व सुम्पिदिनुपर्छ भन्ने दुराग्रह होइन । पश्चिम सेती र महाकालीमा नेपालको हित र हक सुनिश्चित गरिनै पर्छ । तर, त्यसो गर्ने निहुँमा नभएको अत्तो झिकिरहने र नियतवश मुनासिब हदको लचकता देखाउन कञ्जुस्याइँ गर्ने प्रवृत्ति गलत हो । लेखा समितिले पछिल्लो पटक उठाएको कुरामा दम छ । नेपालको कानुनभित्र राखेर पश्चिम सेतीको निर्माण र सञ्चालन हुनुपर्छ र संक्रमणकालका समस्याहरूका कारण आउने व्यवधानको भर्पाइ गर्न नेपाल बाध्य हुनु हुँदैन । अत्तो लेखा समितिले होइन तथाकथित वातावरणकर्मी र राष्ट्रवादीहरूको नकारात्मक प्रवृत्तिले थापेको छ । खोलामा बगिरहेको पानीको लोभ नगर्नेहरूलाई ननिकालिएको बिजुलीको चिन्ता छ । ८० मेगावाटको छुट्टै पावर हाउस बनाएर ७५० मेगावाट बिजुली भारतलाई बेच्दा राम्रो कि सेतीको पानी अझै तीन दशक खेर जानु ठीक ?

दिउँसै बिजुली बाल्ने हो भने पञ्चेश्वर अगाडि बढाऔं । हाम्रो भागमा पर्ने करिब ३५०० मेगावाट बिजुली ल्याएर चौबीसै घन्टा बालौं । पश्चिम सेतीको ८० मेगावाट बाहेकको बिजुली भारतलाई बेच्न दिऔं । भनाइ के हो भने सम्भावनाका सकारात्मक पक्षहरूमा पनि केन्दि्रत हुन सिकौं, विकासलाई बहुआयामिक बनाइनुपर्छ । पश्चिम सेतीको बिजुली कि त नेपालले नै किन्ने भन्नु पर्‍यो कि भने सरकार स्वयंले त्यो परियोजना बनाउन सक्नुपर्‍यो । निजी क्षेत्र अगाडि आए पनि हुन्छ । विकल्पहरू दिन नसक्ने अनि रुवाबासी गर्ने कामको के अर्थ हुन्छ ? स्मेकले अझैं ५० वर्ष कुरिरहन्छ भन्ने के ग्यारेन्टी छ ? कि स्मेक मन नपरेको हो ? लफडाले धुमिल हुँदै गरेको सम्भावनाका बीच सेती नदीमा खेर गइरहेको पानीको हिसाब गर्ने हो कि ?

पर्यावरणीय दृष्टिले सकारात्मक र स्तरीय पुनर्वासको योजना मात्रै पश्चिम सेतीको आकर्षण होइन । त्यो परियोजनाको निर्माणसँगै सुदूरपश्चिममा बढ्ने आर्थिक गतिविधि पनि लोभलाग्दो कुरा हो । भोकभोकै मरिरहेका जनतालाई नदेख्ने, माछाको बासस्थानको चिन्ता गर्ने । थलारा लगायतको बेसिन क्षेत्रका जनताको दुर्दशा देखेर दया नमान्ने, सांस्कृतिक विस्थापनको हौवा फैलाउने । सेतीबाट एक वाट पनि बिजुली निकाल्ने हैसियत नराख्ने अनि सित्तैमा बन्न लागेको ८० मेगावाटको पावर हाउस र वाषिर्क रूपमा भित्रिने करोडौं रुपैयाँको सम्भावनालाई तुहाउने । पश्चिम सेतीका विरोधीहरूले के गर्न खोजेका हुन् बुभmनै नसकिने कुरा भएको छ ।

उता, महाकाली नदीमा समान हकको कुरा गर्नेहरूको कुरा पनि बुभmन गाह्रो छ । पञ्चेश्वरमा नेपालले ३९ प्रतिशत मात्रै लगानी गर्ने अनि बिजुली र पानी आधाआधा हुनुपर्छ भन्ने । समान हकवादीहरूले भन्न सक्नुपर्‍यो नेपालले पनि ५० प्रतिशत नै लगानी गर्छ र बिजुली मात्रै होइन पानी पनि आधा लैजान्छ । लगानीअनुसार प्रतिफल पाउने शास्वत सिद्धान्तलाई बिर्सेर समान हकको कुरा गर्दा विवेकको प्रयोग भएको कसरी मान्ने ? महाकाली नदी साझा हो पनि भन्ने अनि भारतले त्यसको उपयोग गर्न खोजे षड्यन्त्रको गन्ध देख्ने प्रवृत्ति पनि हास्यास्पद हो । नेपालले महाकालीको आधा पानी उपयोग गर्ने योजना बनाएर अगाडि बढ्ने हो भने छुट्टै आन्दोलनको विकास हुन सक्छ । टनकपुरबाट पाइने एक हजार क्युसेक पानी ल्याउन १३ वर्षमा जम्मा तीन किलोमिटर नहर खन्न सक्ने हैसियत पनि देख्न सक्नुपर्‍यो । महाकालीको आधा पानी लैजान्छौं नहर बनाइदे भन्दा भारतले ‘बनाइदिन्न’ भन्नु स्वाभाविक होइन र ? पञ्चेश्वर निर्माणमा नेपालले बेहोर्नुपर्ने करिब १ खर्ब ३५ अर्ब अमेरिकी डलरको लागतलाई हाउगुजी बनाएर महाकाली नदीको उपयोगका सबै सम्भावना ओझेलमा पार्ने काम हुँदैछ । महाकाली नदीको चिन्ता गर्नेहरूले त्यो रकम जुटाउने अभियानमा लागे कसो होला ? प्रतिफल सुनिश्चित भएका परियोजनामा लगानी गर्न संसारका दर्जनांै वित्तीय संस्थाहरू तयार हुन्छन् । त्यो रकम नेपालको २५ वर्षको बजेट रकम बराबर निश्चित रूपमा हो । तर, पञ्चेश्वर एक रातमा बन्ने होइन । कम्तीमा पनि दस वर्ष लाग्ने त्यस परियोजनाका लागि राष्ट्रिय मिसनका रूपमा लगानी जुटाउने पहल गर्न सकिन्छ । काठमाडौंका वातानुकूलित भव्य च्याम्बरमा बसेर योजना बनाउनेहरूले यसबारेमा के गर्न सक्छन् जनताले बुभmन पाउनुपर्छ । पञ्चेश्वर तुहाउन लगानीको कुरा उठाउने नियत महाकालीको उपयोग नहोस् भन्ने आशयबाट प्रेरित छ भन्ने आरोप लगाउन धक मान्नुपर्ने कारण छैन किनभने लगानीका सम्भाव्य स्रोतहरूबारे सिन्को भाँच्ने काम भएको छैन ।

पञ्चेश्वर र पश्चिम सेतीको पक्षमा बोल्ने र लेख्नेहरूको खडेरी छ । विरोधीहरूले अस्वाभाविक स्तरमा विरोध गरिरहेका छन् । सकारात्मक पाटोहरूलाई ओझेल पार्ने गरी चर्को विरोध भइरहेको बेला पक्षमा बोल्दा राष्ट्रघाती कहलाइने डरले त्यसो भएको हुनुपर्छ । तर, सत्य सधँै सत्य हुन्छ । भारतसँग जोडिएका यस्ता परियोजनाहरू खोक्रो राष्ट्रवादको मात्रै होइन राजनीतिक पूर्वाग्रहको शिकार बन्ने गरेका छन् । प्रधानमन्त्री माधवकुमार नेपालले उहिल्यै भने जस्तो माइक्रोवेभबाट बिजुली निर्यात हुने प्रविधिको अबिष्कार नहुञ्जेल हामीले जलस्रोतको बजार छरछिमेकमै खोज्ने हो । तीनतिर भारतले घेरेको हुँदा भारत नै ठूलो र निकट बजार हो । यस्तो यथार्थलाई नबुझीकन आपmनो सरकार ढालेको झोंकमा होस् वा पेट्रो माफियासँगको साँठगाँठमा होस् सम्भावनाका सकारात्मक पक्षहरूलाई पनि रद्दीमा मिल्काउन प्रयास गर्नु गलत हो ।

पश्चिम सेती र पञ्चेश्वरलाई सबैभन्दा पहिले सुदूरपश्चिमेलीहरूको दृष्टिबाट हेरिनुपर्छ । काठमाडौंका आशनहरू तताइरहेका सुदूरपश्चिमेलीहरूका आँखामा लागेको पट्टी खुल्दो हो त सम्भावनाका यी ढोकाहरू सजिलै खुल्ने थिए । दुर्भाग्य, पद, प्रभाव र पहुँचमा बसेकाहरूले पनि राष्ट्रवाद र राष्ट्रप्रतिको चिन्ताको नाटक मञ्चन गरिरहेकाहरूका खोक्रा तर बदनियतपूर्ण अत्तोको चिरफार गर्न सकिरहेका छैनन् । अब राष्ट्रवाद व्यावहारिक हुनुपर्छ, राष्ट्रप्रतिको चिन्ता अभाव र गरिबीमा केन्दि्रत हुनुपर्छ भन्ने सोचका साथ पश्चिम सेती र महाकाली नदीको कुरा गरिनुपर्छ ।

लेखक महेन्द्रनगरका पत्रकार हुन् /sudoor.bichar@gmail.com

Source: Kantipur daily/August 24, 2009

बहुप्रतिक्षित मेलम्ची खानेपानी आयोजनाको सुरुङ्गमार्गको शिलान्यास भएकोमा मलाई खुसी लागेको छ । उपत्यकाको बढ्दो जनसङ्ख्याका लागि खानेपानी आपर्ूर्तिका सबै विकल्पहरू अपुग भएका छन् । यस अवस्थामा मेलम्ची खानेपानी आयोजना मात्र एउटा भरपर्दो समाधानका रूपमा देखा परेको छ । त्यसै कारण नेपाल सरकारले यस आयोजनालाई प्राथमिकताका साथ अघि बढाएको छ । सरकारको यस कार्यमा आ-आफ्नो ठाउ“बाट सक्रिय र रचनात्मक सहयोग पुर्‍याउन म सम्बन्धित सबैलाई हार्दिक अनुरोध गर्दछु ।

विगतमा विभिन्न कठिनाइहरूका कारण समयमै यस महत्वपर्ूण्ा आयोजनाको निर्माण कार्य सुरु हुन सकेन । हामीले समयमै यो काम सम्पन्न गर्न सकेको भए अहिलेसम्म राजधानीको खानेपानीको समस्या समाधान भइसक्ने थियो । अहिलेसम्म यस क्षेत्रमा विकासको प्रतिफल प्राप्त भइसक्ने थियो, रोजगारीका अवसरहरुको सिर्जना भइसक्ने थियो र आयोजनाको लागत पनि घट्ने थियो । लामो समयको प्रतिक्षापछि आज आएर यस आयोजनाको सबभन्दा महत्वपर्ूण्ा सुरुङ्गमार्ग निर्माण कार्यको शुभारम्भ भएको छ । अब यो आयोजना तोकिएको समयभित्र सम्पन्न गर्नैपर्छ भन्ने कुरामा म जोड दिन चाहन्छु । हामीले निर्धारित समयमै यो आयोजना सम्पन्न गरी राजधानीवासीको खानेपानीको समस्यालाई समाधान गर्नेछौ“ र यस क्षेत्रका जनताको चाहना परिपर्ूर्ति गर्नेछौ“ भन्नेमा म आशावादी छु ।

हाम्रो मुलुकमा धेरै ठूला आयोजनाहरू निर्माण हुन सकिरहेका छैनन् । एकातिर स्वदेशी पु“जीको अभाव, अर्कातिर अनेकौ“ जटिलता । यी कारणले गर्दा पनि हामीले यसमा वाञ्छित सफलता पाउन सकेका छैनौ“ । अर्कातिर दातृ निकायहरू पनि हाम्रो देशको स्थितिले गर्दा सन्तुष्ट हुन सकिरहेका छैनन् । यस्ता समस्या भएका कारण हामीले ठूला आयोजनाहरूमा दातृ निकायहरूलाई पनि आकषिर्त गर्न सकिरहेका छैनौ“ । यस्ता गतिविधिहरूले आयोजनालाई समयमै पूरा गर्न सकि“दैन । त्यति मात्र होइन, समयमै निर्माण पूरा हुन नसकेका कारण त्यसको लागत पनि महङ्गो पर्दै जान्छ । हामीले याद राख्नर्ुपर्छ- तत्कालै हाम्रो गोजीबाट खर्च नभए पनि जति लागत बढ्दै जान्छ, त्यो सबै ऋण हाम्रै थाप्लोमा थपि“दै जान्छ । यही भावनाका साथ अघि बढ्न सक्यौ“ भने मात्र हामीले सरकारका हरेक निर्ण्र्ाारूलाई आफ्नै निम्ति गरिएका हुन् भन्ने सम्झन सक्छौ“ र त्यसमा हिस्सेदारी स्थापित गर्न सक्छौ“ । सरकार भनेको जनताको प्रतिनिधि र अभिभावक दुबै हो । लोकतन्त्रमा सरकार सधै“ जनताको निगरानीमा हुन्छ । म आमजनसमुदायलाई आग्रह गर्न चाहन्छु- विकास-निर्माणसम्बन्धी सरकारका कामहरूमा सबै जनसमुदायले साथ दिनुहोस् । त्यसपछि निगरानी गर्ने काम पनि अघि बढ्न सकोस् । किनभने, नोक्सानी हु“दा त्यसको वेफाइदा जनतालाई नै नै हुन्छ ।

त्यसैले काम समयमै सम्पन्न हुन्छ कि हु“दैन - कामको गुणस्तर कायम राखिएको छ कि छैन - यसमा अनियमितता भएको छ कि छैन - यस्ता कुरामा व्यवस्थित र संस्थागत रुपमा ध्यान दिन सक्दा मात्रै सचेत नागरिकको कर्तव्य पूरा गरेको ठहरिनेछ ।

विगतमा द्वन्द्वका कारण थुप्रै भौतिक संरचनाहरु ध्वस्त भएका छन् । हामीले अब तिनको पुनःनिर्माण गरेर मात्र पुग्दैन, अहिलेको आवश्यकतालाई परिपर्ूर्ति गर्ने हिसावले थप नया“ संरचनाहरु र नया“-नया“ निर्माण गर्नुपर्ने भएको छ । द्वन्द्वले कुनै एक पक्षलाई मात्र प्रभावित पार्दैन, सबैलाई मार पार्छ भन्ने कुरा हामीले भोगिसकेका छौ“ । विगतको द्वन्द्वमा हजारौ“ नागरिकको ज्यान मात्र गएन, आमजनतास“ग सम्बन्धित अनगीन्ति क्षतिहरु भएका छन् । हामीले अब तिनलाई पनि पूरताल गर्नुछ । साथसाथै, यस्तो द्वन्द्वको स्थिति फेरि सिर्जना नहोस् र मुलुकमा कसैले पनि कुनै पनि किसिमबाट भेदभाव तथा उत्पीडनको स्थिति महसुस गर्न नपरोस् भनेरै अहिले हामी सबैको अपनत्व बोध हुने गरी जनचाहना अनुसारको नया“ संविधान बनाउन गइरहेका छौ“ । शान्ति प्रक्रियालाई र्सार्थक निष्कर्षा पुर्‍याउने र निर्धारित मितिभित्रै नया“ संविधान बनाउने कुरा हाम्रो मुलुकको भाग्य र भविष्यस“ग जोडिएको छ । किनभने, विकास र राजनीति निरपेक्ष हुन सक्दैनन् । राजनीतिलाई सही दिशामा लैजान सकियो भने विकास निर्माणलाई पनि त्यही गतिमा अगाडि बढाएर लैजान सकिन्छ । त्यसैले यस कार्यमा सबै राजनीतिक दल, नागरिक समाज र आमजनसमुदायको सक्रिय सहयोग हुन जरुरी छ भन्ने मलाई लाग्दछ ।

यस आयोजनाको कार्यान्वयनपछि राजधानीमा लामो समयदेखि रहेको खानेपानी आपर्ूर्तिको समस्या समाधान गर्न मद्दत पुग्नेछ । यसले राजधानी र राजधानीबासीको समग्र विकासमा नै नया“ आयाम थप्नेछ र राजधानीबासीको जीवनयापनमा अनुकूल प्रभाव पर्नेछ भन्ने मैले विश्वास लिएको छु । त्यति मात्र होइन, वागमतीमा स्वच्छ पानी बग्नेछ र काठमाडौ“को जनजीवनमा निकै सकारात्मक प्रभाव पर्नेछ ।

नेपालमा ज्यादै ठूलो सङ्ख्यामा खानेपानी र त्यसका कारण उत्पन्न हुने रोगबाट मानिसको मृत्यु हुने गरेको छ । मुलुकको राजधानी शहर पनि खानेपानीजन्य समस्याबाट ग्रस्त भइरहेको छ । पानीजन्य रोगको उपचारमा वर्षोनी लाखौ“ रकम खर्च हुने गरेको सर्न्दर्भलाई विचार गर्दा यस परियोजनाबाट काठमाडौ“को समग्र जनजीवन ठूलो प्रभाव पर्ने निश्चित त छ“दैछ, विदेशीहरुलाई समेत सकारात्मक प्रभाव पारेर पर्यटनमा सकारात्मक प्रभाव पार्नेछ भन्ने मैले विश्वास लिएको छु ।

हालै मात्र रुकुम, जाजरकोटलगायतका मध्य तथा सुदूरपश्चिमका पहाडी जिल्लामा खासगरी फोहोर पानीका कारण झाडापाखाला फैलिएको छ र यसले महामारीको रूप समेत लिएको छ । यस प्रकोपबाट धेरै नेपालीको ज्यान गएको घटनाले स्वस्थ जीवनका लागि स्वच्छ खानेपानी र सरसफाईमा अझ वढी ध्यान जान आवश्यक भएको कुरालाई सबैले महसुस गर्नुपर्ने आवश्यकता छ । सबै नागरिकलाई स्वच्छ खानेपानीको आपर्ूर्ति र सरसफाईको उचित प्रवन्ध गर्ने काम सरकारको प्राथमिक दायित्वभित्र पर्दछ । सम्वन्धित मन्त्रालयलाई यससम्बन्धी कामलाई योजनाबद्ध रूपमा अगाडि बढाउन म निर्देशन दिन चाहन्छु । यस अवस्थामा अझै पनि देशको राजधानीमै खानेपानी तथा सरसफाईको अभाव रहेको स्थित्रि्रति सरकारका सबै निकायको ध्यान जानु अति आवश्यक पनि रहेको छ । यिनै कुराहरूलाई ख्याल गरी यस आयोजनाको छिटो निर्माणका लागि आवश्यक सबै प्रकारको सहयोग उपलब्ध गराउन सरकार तत्पर रहेको म जानकारी दिलाउन चाहान्छु ।

यस आयोजनाले राजधानीवासीको खानेपानीको माग मात्र पूरा गर्ने नभई स्रोत रहेको मेलम्ची उपत्यकामा समेत पर्याप्त भौतिक, सामाजिक तथा आर्थिक विकासका अवसरहरू सिर्जना गर्नेतर्फप्रयासहरू सुरु भएका छन् । अहिले म आउ“दै गर्दा बाटोमा एकजना बैनीले भन्नुभयो- ‘अरु त ठीकै भयो, सम्झौता भयो । तर, महिलाहरुका बारेमा अलग्गै केही भएन अर्थात् महिलाहरुलाई सम्बोधन गरिएन ।‘ म आयोजनास“ग सम्बन्धित सबैलाई यस विषयमा महिलाहरुलाई अलग्गै कसरी सम्बोधन गर्न सकिन्छ, त्यसबारे आवश्यक ध्यान दिन निर्देश गर्न चाहन्छु ।

यस आयोजनाबाट सबैले उचित लाभ प्राप्त गर्नेछन् भन्ने मैले विश्वास लिएको छु । विकास भनेको एउटाको हिस्सा काटेर अरूलाई बा“ड्ने काम होइन । यो त साधन-स्रोतको अधिकतम र दीगो उपयोगवाट प्राप्त हुने अवसरहरूको न्यायोचित वितरण गरी लगानीको अधिकतम प्रतिफल लिने तथा जनताको जीवनस्तर माथि उठाउने अभियान पनि हो । यस कुरालाई ध्यानमा राखेर अघि बढ्न म सबैलाई आग्रह गर्दछु ।

यस आयोजनाको आरम्भदेखि यहा“सम्म ल्याई पुर्‍याउन कुनै न कुनै रूपमा योगदान गर्नुुहुने र विभिन्न कठिनाइहरूका बाबजुद आयोजनालाई यस अवस्थासम्म ल्याई पुर्‍याउन सहयोग गर्नुहुने सम्पर्ूण्ा प्राविधिकहरू, राष्ट्रसेवक कर्मचारी र नागरिकहरू, आम जनसमुदाय, काठमाडौ“ र सिन्धुपाल्चोकका बासिन्दाहरुलाई म विशेष धन्यवाद दिन चाहन्छु । साथै, यस प्रयासमा र्सार्थक सहयोग पुर्‍याउने दातृ निकायहरू- एसियाली विकास बैङ्क, जापान सरकार, ओपेक कोष, एन.डी.एफ. लगायत नर्वे र स्वीडेन सरकार अनि छिमेकी चीनका कन्ट्याक्टर संस्थाहरुबाट बाट प्राप्त निरन्तर सहयोगका लागि म हृदयदेखि नै धन्यवाद ज्ञापन गर्दछु । आयोजना निर्माणमा सक्रिय सहयोग पुर्‍याउने प्रभावित क्षेत्रका आमजनसमुदायलाई पनि सरकार र मेरो तर्फबाट धन्यवाद दिन चाहन्छु ।

अन्त्यमा, यो आयोजना द्रूत गतिमा निर्माण पूरा भई राजधानी तथा मेलम्ची क्षेत्रको विकासमा अर्थपर्ूण्ा योगदान पुर्‍याउन सकोस् भन्ने मेरो शुभकामना व्यक्त गर्दै म आफ्नो मन्तव्य यही“ टुङ्ग्याउ“छु ।

धन्यवाद

(सम्माननीय प्रधानमन्त्री माधवकुमार नेपालले मेचलम्ची खानेपानी आयोजनाको सुरुङमार्गको शिलान्यास -१९ साउन, ०६६) का अवसरमा व्यक्त गर्नुभएको मन्तव्य)

]]> http://www.hydronepal.org/guest-column/942.html/feed http://www.hydronepal.org/guest-column/856.html http://www.hydronepal.org/guest-column/856.html#comments Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:29:47 +0000 editor http://www.hydronepal.org/?p=856 नेपाली भूमिभित्रै बिजुली निकाल्ने पश्चिम सेती आयोजनाबाट सुदूरपश्चिमका जनताले भने यथासक्य बढी लाभ उठाउनु जरुरी छ तर, हाम्रो मात्र लाभ हेर्दा आयोजना नै बन्न नसक्ने अवस्था चाहिँ आउनु हुँदैन।

सुदूरपश्चिम विकास क्षेत्र विकासको मूलप्रवाहबाट सधैं पछाडि परिरह्यो, पारिइरह्यो। यहाँ विकासका संरचना र आयोजना गतिलो गरी कहिल्यै आएनन्। नेपालको भूमिसँग भौगोलिक पहूँच जोड्नका लागि आएको कर्णालीको पुल बन्नु नै हाम्रो सधैं सपना बनिरह्यो। बल्लतल्ल त्यो बनेपछि अहिले चमेलिया जलविद्यूत आयोजना आएको छ। त्यसको सदुपयोगभन्दा दोहनमा हाम्रो ध्यान केन्द्रित भएको छ। त्यो पनि एक राजनीतिक आयोजना भएकोले आएको मात्र हो। त्यससँग यो क्षेत्रको लागि विकास जोडिएर आउने छ वा आउने छैन भन्ने हेर्न बाँकी नै छ।

यस्तै दुर्लभ विकासे अवसरहरुमध्ये सुदूरपश्चिममा ७५० मेगावाट जलविद्युत निकाल्ने पश्चिम सेती आयोजना आउने कुरा अलि तीब्र स्वरमा सुनिन थालेको छ। यो चर्चाले सर्वसाधारणमा स्वाभाविक रुपमा उत्साह ल्याएको छ। नेपालको आधा बजेट जति रकम खर्च हुने यो आयोजना सुदुरपश्चिममा निर्माण हुनु आफैंमा सामान्य कुरा होइन। नेपाल मात्र नभएर यो दक्षिण एशियाकै लागि पनि यो ठूलो आयोजना हो। तसर्थ सिंगो नेपालसँगै यसबारे सुदूपश्चिमका जनताले थप जानकारी पाउनु आवश्यक छ।
 
यो आयोजनाबारे चलेका विभिन्न चर्चा परिचर्चाले खुसीसँगै सुदूरपश्चिमका जनतामा अन्योल पनि छाएको छ। कारण बिडम्बना के छ भने जनताले यो आयोजनाको बारेमा जति जाने बुझेका छन्, त्योभन्दा बढी अन्योलग्रस्त छन्। तिनीहरुलाई अन्योलमा पार्ने काम गरिरहेका छन्, तिनकै विभिन्न खाले प्रतिनिधि हुँ भन्नेहरुले। सुदूरपश्चिमका कुना कन्दरामा बस्ने गाउँलेहरुलाई झुक्याउने र गुमराहमा राख्ने काम गर्नेहरु हुन्, काठमाडौंमा बसेर उनीहरुकै हितमा बोले जस्तो गर्नेहरु। त्योभन्दा उदेक लाग्दो कुरा के छ भने त्यस्तै प्रवृत्ति भएकाहरुलाई हामी सुदूर पश्चिमका बासिन्दाले हाम्रो विकासको मसिहा ठानिरहेका छौं।
 
नेपालका विकास आयोजनाहरुमध्ये अहिलेसम्मकै सबैभन्दा ठूलो आयोजनाको रुपमा प्रस्ताव गरिएको पश्चिम सेती जलविद्युत आयोजनाको चर्चा सुनिएको त एक दशक नाघिसक्यो। तर एक डेढ वर्षयता भने निकै चहलपहल बढेको छ। थरिथरिका स्वदेशी तथा विदेशीहरु आउन जान थालेका छन्। हालै सुदूरपश्चिमले नै गर्व गरिरहेका तीन जना विद्वानहरुको संलग्नतामा स्वतन्त्र विज्ञ समूह गठन भएको समाचार विभिन्न सञ्चारमाध्यममा पनि पढेकी थिएँ। यस्ता प्रयासबाट यो आयोजनाप्रति सुदूर पश्चिमको विश्वास बढ्ने पक्का छ।

सर्वोच्च अदालतको फैसलापछि यो आयोजनाको बारेमा सकारात्मक सोचाइहरु बढेका छन्। फैसलापछि निसंकोचरुपमा यसको प्रशंसा पनि गरेको सुनिएको छ। यद्यपि अदालतको फैसलापछि आफ्नो चाहना पूरा नभएका व्यक्तिहरुले भने अदालतकै मानहानी गर्नेसम्मको टिप्पणी गरेको पनि सुनिएको थियो। विकासको पक्षमा महत्वपूर्ण निर्णय गर्दा त्यसका विरोधीहरुले विषयबस्तुलाई अनावश्यक उछाल्न खोजेको सहजै बुझ्न सकिन्छ।

समाज र सञ्चार नकारात्मक मात्र छैन। बहुसंख्यक मान्छेहरु सकारात्मक सोच राख्दछन्। त्यसैको परिणाम हो, अदालतको फैसलापछि कतिपय पत्रपत्रिकाले सम्पादकीय नै लेखेर अब पश्चिम सेती आयोजना चाँडो बन्नुपर्छ भन्ने धारणा राखे। हुन पनि एशियाली विकास बैंकको समेत १५ प्रतिशत लगानी रहेको र नेपाल सरकारको पनि १५ प्रतिशत लगानी हुने भनिएको यो आयोजना सुदुरपश्चिमवासीको लागि ढिला भइसकेको छ। हुनत ढिला भएसँगै यो क्षेत्रका जनताले ४ प्रतिशत शेयर लगानी गर्न पाउने भन्ने जस्तो सुखद् समाचार पनि सुनिएको छ। तर, उहिल्यैदेखि काम थाल्ने भन्ने सुनिएको यो आयोजनाको निर्माण भने ढिला भएको छ। ढिलाइमा एशियाली विकास बैक पनि मुछिएको छ। सो बैंकले लगानी नगर्ने भनेको पनि छैन तर लगानी गरेको पनि छैन। बैंकका विभिन्न मान्छेहरु आयोजना क्षेत्रमा विभिन्न नाममा घुम्न गएको समाचार पनि पढ्न सुन्न पाइएको छ। तैपनि ढिलासुस्तीको यो अवस्थाले जलविद्युत विकासको क्षेत्रमा नराम्रो सन्देश प्रभाह भएको छ।

कार्यान्वयनको यो पक्षभन्दा अगाडि हेर्ने हो भने आयेजनासम्बन्धमा सर्वोच्च अदालतले गत भदौमा गरेको फैसलाले केही सैद्धान्तिक सवालहरुको पनि टुंगो लगाइदिएको छ। सिमानामा नपरेका वा नदीको पानीको उपयोगमा छिमेकी मुलुकसँग साझेदारी गर्न नपर्ने आयोजनाहरूलाई पानीको बाँडफाँडको विषय आकर्षित हुन्छ कि भन्ने एक प्रकारको आशंका नेपाली जलविद्यूत विकासको क्षेत्रमा थियो। अब त्यो शंकाबाट मुक्त रही राष्ट्रहितमा जलविकासलाई उपयोग गर्नसकिने बाटो फराकिलो भएको छ।

जलस्रोतको धनी मुलुकमा बिजुलीको अभाव हुँदा पनि जलविद्युत उत्पादनको विरोध गर्नेहरुको खेती भने अहिले पनि मौलाएकै छ। जलश्रोतको धनी भनिएको मुलुकमा खाडीबाट बोकेर ल्याएको तेलबाट बिजुली निकाल्न लागिसक्दा पनि जलविद्युत आयोजनाको विरोध भइरहनुको रहस्य बुझिनसक्नुको छ। व्यक्तिगत जीवन निर्वाहका लागि विभिन्न संघसंस्थाको आडमा एकोहोरो दुस्प्रचार अभियान चलाइरहने र जनतालाई गुमराहमा राखेर भड्काइरहने राष्ट्रघाती कामको प्रतिकार कसले गर्ने हो देखिएको छैन।

सत्य बोल्न डराउने र कमाउ अभियानका गैरसरकारी संस्थाहरुलाई नै नागरिक समाज ठानी तिनीहरुको बारेमा टिप्पणी गर्न नचाहने मल्ल्ाोस्तरका व्यक्तिहरुसमेतको विरुद्धमा कसैले न कसैले त बोल्नु जरुरी छ। पश्चिम सेती आयोजनाले नेपालको राष्ट्रिय हितलाई समाप्त पार्ने वा यो आयोजना बनेमा राष्ट्रघात हुने भएकोले आयोजनाका सबै काम रोक्नुपर्छ भन्ने माग गर्नेहरुको स्वर अब अर्थहीन प्रमाणित भइसकेको छ। हुनत आयोजनाको विरोध गरेर हाम्रै सुदूरपश्चिमका केही व्यक्ति पनि अदालत पुगे तर उनीहरुको मागदावी गलत ठहरियो।

अदालतको फैसलापछि नेपालको पानीको बाँडफाँड हुनेबाहेकका अरु निर्यातमूलक जलविद्युत आयोजना निर्माणको बाटो पनि खुल्यो। यसपछि नेपालमा जलविद्युत विकासका क्षेत्रमा लगानी गर्ने अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय लगानीकर्ताहरूमाझ सकारात्मक सन्देश पनि गयो जसले जलविद्युतको विकासमा प्रत्यक्ष वैदेशिक लगानी भित्र्याउन योगदान गर्ने विश्वासमा एउटा ईटा भए पनि थपेको छ।

पश्चिम सेती आयोजना नेपालमा विद्युत निकालेर ९० प्रतिशत भारतमा निर्यात गर्ने र १० प्रतिशत विद्युत नेपाललाई निःशुल्क दिने आयोजना हो। त्यही १० प्रतिशत पनि मध्य मर्स्या ङ्गदीको जडित क्षमताभन्दा बढी हुन्छ। आयोजनाका लाभ उठाएर ३० वर्षपछि आयोजना नै नेपालको हुने छ।

यो लाभ उठाउने काममा आयोजना बनेको देख्न नचाहनेहरुबाहेक कसैको अर्को स्वर सुनिएको छैन। नेपाली भूमिभित्रै बिजुली निकाल्ने पश्चिम सेती आयोजनाबाट हामी सुदूरपश्चिमका जनताले भने यथासक्य बढी लाभ उठाउनु जरुरी छ। तर, ध्यान दिनुपर्ने कुरा के छ भने हामीले हाम्रो मात्र लाभ हेर्दा आयोजना नै बन्न नसक्ने अवस्था चाहिँ आउनु हुँदैन। हामीले आफ्नो लाभ मात्र हेरेको कारणले आयोजना नै नबनेमा अन्ततः हामीले विलाप गर्ने अवस्था मात्र बाँकी रहन सक्छ।
 
(अछाम निवासी खडायत शिक्षण पेशामा संलग्न छिन)
radhachh@yahoo.com

Source : Dainikee.com/June 17, 2009

Nepal is going through severe power shortage at present. This is having a huge cumulative effect on the economic growth of the country itself.The government of Nepal has declared state of emergency in the power sector and has admitted the bitter truth of being unsuccessful to meet the growing power demand. The present alarming situation is not a result of our actions and plans of last few months but it is an accumulation of problems, short-sightedness, political intervention in Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and “water politics” in the past. As a result, we have always lacked in terms of long-term plan to cope with the increasing demand of electricity. We have lagged even behind other underdeveloped countries in the supply side option. Moreover, it is not possible to produce the deficit power in the coming few months.

It is so surprising as well as embarrassing to hear the experts who were in responsible positions in the past and now opposing the policy of past and present government. But we should realise this nightmare is not only because of the politicians. The experts and planners who were advisors and guiding the politicians should also take moral responsibility.

The peak energy demand in 1998 was 317 MW which was more than double (722 MW) in 2008. However, the current production capacity is 617 MW including NEA and Independent Power Producers efforts. So even in wet season, it is not possible to meet the demand even when the power plants operate in full capacity. Government should now come up with a detail programme to sort out the problem. Definitely the power crisis need to be seen in a larger perspective, requiring short term, mid term and long term solutions.

Short Terms Measures
The energy issue is related with demand side. The residential sector has large contribution (42%) during the peak hours. So, strong demand management programmes in residential sector can sharply reduce the peak load. Replacement of incandescent light by Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) in a mass scale in the household, and promotion of energy efficient home appliances could be effective measures to reduce demands.

The life of CFL are normally longer than that of filament lamps while its use also substantially reduces the electricity bill but they are susceptible with the voltage and frequency variation and therefore question of maintaining standard voltage and frequency in the consumer end is another big challenge to NEA. As the cost of average CFL is ten times higher than incandescent lamps consumers may be reluctant to quickly shift to these lamps if we are not able to assure the quality of the electricity. So maintaining quality of electricity is must to enforce successful CFL programme.

Electricity is a commodity; the pricing needs to vary with the demand. So, there should also be time of day tariff in urban residential sector. This will encourage people to shift their possible load in off peak hours. If above mentioned two points are implemented properly, the peak load could be reduced by at least 10% to 20%. For this, there should be an integrated effort from NEA, consumer associations and the private sector.

Mid Term Measures: Diesel plants or Energy from Waste
The government had come up with the proposal of installing 200 MWh diesel power plants for immediate solution to the load shedding, which could be a mid term solution. The question is if we have done the feasibility study to identify such locations which could prove best for locating diesel plant considering the transmission losses, local environment etc. There is also doubt on the reliable supply from diesel plants as people have bitter experience of keeping themselves in queue for hours to get few liters of petrol and diesel in the gasoline stations. The installation cost of a diesel power plant is fairly low and also has shorter installation time than hydro but it will be another challenge to compete with its high generation cost and to cope with price dependency on imported fuel. NEA has proposed additional government subsidy to meet the extra per unit cost of generation which is not a realistic plan and solution at all. More in depth exercise is needed before its implementation.

Waste management has always been a big problem in major cities especially the capital Kathmandu. An integrated solution for two different problems could be generate energy from waste. A typical plant with a daily waste input of 830 tons of garbage and 50 MWh of energy generates 400 MWh electricity and 960 tons of steam (thermal power) and 28 tons of ash, which is hardly 3% of the total weight of the garbage which would otherwise has to be dumped in the dumping site.

436 tons of waste is generated everyday in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. This can generate about 184 MW electricity everyday. Definitely the conversion technology with cleaning mechanism is costly but the cost needs to be looked at the waste management perspective and also the cost of electricity generation. New heat intense processing industrial area can be developed near by such location. This, to some extent, will also lead our metro cities towards a sustainable development.

Long-term Strategy
Without doubt, our long term strategy needs to focus on hydropower. If we look at the NEA’s annual report, 12.8 Gigawatts has been in plan and proposed power development schemes including ambitious schemes like Pancheswor of 6.5 GW, Karnali Chisapani of 1.1 GW, since quite a long time. Time has come to critically review our power development policy and strategy and the reasons why we have not been successful in hydropower development. Every large hydropower scheme plan has been politicised. We should now be able to move ahead with national consensus in hydropower development.

We should also be able to foresee power surplus situation once large schemes are harnessed. Our strategies in no case depend on India as a single client. So we should advocate for SAARC regional pool concept. We must create an environment to sell our electricity in a free market pool. So that we wont have the “power excess” problem in future.

(Mainali is a researcher at Energy and Climate Studies Division in Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden. Email: brijesh.mainali@energy.kth.se )

Source : NEPALNEWS.COM

My new wife, normally a quiet person, who speaks only when spoken to, teased me a week ago. “I brought load shedding as a dowry,” she said.

I laughed out loud and satirically thanked her for gifting me the darkness — the darkness(the dowry of our failed energy policy) with which I have formed a powerful bond of solidarity.

We sat in silence for few moments, each lost in our own thoughts. I said nothing but just kept on staring at the over head sky bulb with numbness in my eyes. My wife got irritated and went to the kitchen to help my mother there.

More from Ohmynews

radhachh@yahoo.com

There have been much discussions on West Seti Hydroelectric Project (WSHEP) not only for the hydro power development but for overall development, especially of the far western region, of the country. The debate is normal and is needed. The project is, sometimes, linked to the issue of Nepal’s nationalism in these discussions. Much is heard or read that the project is against the national interest of Nepal but less is talked on its other side. What could be the reasons behind this? Is it not the conspiracy of creating continued load shedding in Nepal and continuously oppose developing hydro power here? The issue can be debated in this line as well. In fact, this project targets to generate hydro power from the Nepali land and export 90 percent of the produced power to India, and freely distribute 10 percent (more than total capacity of mid-Marshyangdi) in Nepal.

Last week, I received additional information from materials kept at the Dhangadi and Attariya information centers of the project when I reached there during my visit to far west. It was a good attempt to provide information to local people through information centers in villages. It looks a new initiative in the Nepalese context. I had seen such in few less controversial but social projects in India. I was happy to see it in Nepal’s one of the biggest and most questioned project.

The issue to be discussed here is not about information but about laws, development and politics. And it is related to the question about whether the West Seti project is against national interest. I am trying to write on it since the issue has not become inappropriate despite being talked in several occasions.

A case was filed at the Supreme Court demanding verdict against the project in a bid to stop its construction. There are people who oppose hydropower projects in Nepal and it is not abnormal to see them opposing this project as well. It would be astonishing to see that if the court had supported their demand. That is why I, like others, had been waiting for the court’s decision.

The verdict of the court stating that there is no need to stop construction of the project but require a mechanism for compensation to the local people not only erased by suspicion but also elicited hope in me to move ahead with the project. Those, who do not want this project be constructed have resumed their campaign against it and have become active again. Though it is clear that power generated from the WSHEP cannot be shared equally since the government has given the license of producing power within the Nepali territory under joint investment, they (those who oppose) have picked multiple raisons d’être to make people and the investors confused and create unnecessary pressure on the government. This does not suit (the interest) of country and the people.

Primary thing to understand is that export of electricity produced in Nepal to India is normal economic activity. Until the two countries finalize the agreement on sharing water, distribution water resources in the eyes of international laws will not be finalized. That is why it was very clear that this project needed no approval from parliament or constituent assembly. The court has made it clearer.

While talking about (international) laws, suspicion is being raised if India could get first hand right in use of water resources due to this project. However, it is the lack of adequate knowledge on laws related to water resources to assume that a certain country gets first hand right in context of use of water resources. It is clear that efforts of the Non-Governmental Organizations to make the people confuse and present themselves as intellectual is motivated by the notion of protecting their earning source rather than working for the benefit of we the people or the country.

In fact, countries through which river flows get equal rights on water. It does not mean one can demarcate area in water of having his or her rights. The countries through which river flows must consider several issues like its current use, people dependence on that river, future impacts, economic and geographical situation, advantageous use of water resources and such other alternatives.

It is obvious that the project would not control the amount of water flowing into India or retain rights on the flowing water. There is no justifiable logic as well to accept that India has rights on water presently flowing through West Seti. So it is necessary to identify the anti-national elements who advocate, in bid to receive benefits from India, that Nepal must seek rights from India while constructing projects with reservoirs. It has become important task for us to bust the ring of those who prepare project just to oppose the other projects and we must present this as an example to the world community.  To end, all those affected by the project, government, investors, those whose politics rests on the projects and those running NOGs should be aware, in time, from the elements who try to push the society into darkness.

(A permanent resident of Achham, Khadayat is pursuing her master’s degree from Kathmandu)

Editor : The write-up has been translated from the original document in Nepali which appeared in the Kailali Hotline daily of Jan 24.

Different cases
They further opine that Bhutan has become rich following this method. They give the popular example of the ‘Chukha’ project built by India, whose electricity is supplied to India. However, be reminded that India has bought the electricity at approximately 9 cent per unit and has given very good free equity to Bhutan in the project, which is definitely more than the equity promised by Indian companies in the Upper Karnali and the Arun III hydropower projects of Nepal. In Arun III, West Seti and Upper Karnali, the rate expected is about 4-5 cent per unit, which is lower than what India has now been paying Bhutan. Moreover, Bhutan has given permission for an Indian battalion for the security of the project and, of course, India has de facto control over Bhutan, especially over security issues.

The case of Nepal is, however, different. Most of the projects that have been already signed and others that are under consultation are not similar to Bhutan. Unfortunately, it would be no wonder if these pundits recommend inviting the Indian army for the protection of the projects built by India in the future in the name of security. The obvious fact with Bhutan is that it has already kicked out more than 47 per cent of its citizens who are of ethnic Nepali origin, and that is the best way to increase the per capita income of the people. Geographically also Bhutan is different than Nepal. Bhutan does not have plain land, and does not need water for irrigation and for other purposes. However, Nepal has the Terai, and it needs huge amounts of water and electricity in comparison to Bhutan.

Unfortunately, these same pundits are advising the Maoists. These are the same people who destroyed Girija Prasad Koirala’s Nepali Congress and Madhab-Oli’s UML government in the past. Now they are injecting slow poison to the Maoists. These days, we get to hear Maoist leaders and ministers, including the prime minister, talking about building mega power projects and making the country rich in some 10 years by selling electricity to India. However, this is not the genuine voice of the Maoist party and its leaders, rather it is the voice of those pundits who have been able to convince them to build mega hydro power projects. And, of course, they are trying to convince the Maoists to accept the Bhutanese model. Their main interest is to provide regulated water to India free of cost to realise the Indian River Linking project. If we look at the West Seti Agreement, it is silent over the regulated water which could be a good means of income.

The Maoists must also be able to understand that people of the world are against mega dams. In some places, decommissioning of those dams already built is also being considered. Sustainable development calls for a development model that is not only for this generation but also for generations to come. Let’s take the example of the Koshi disaster that occurred some months back. The people who signed this treaty are now no more, however, their immature act has posed huge problems for the people.

The agreement on the West Seti dam is silent on who should take up the responsibility if a disaster strikes. The same thing is going to happen with the Karnali Chisapani dam and the ridiculous Koshi High Dam, though these have yet to be finalised. Agreements will be signed on the model of the Koshi so that should a disaster occur, it will be easy to blame the other party.

The Maoist should answer the people as to why the government does not give priority to projects that generate cheap electricity. Why does the state or the government not think about generating cheap electricity to industrialise or build railway lines? Why are export-oriented projects being finalised first? Why is there no national priority? Why are projects not being built on the Upper Tamakosi Model? Why does the government not have community electrification, which is very reliable and cheap for the people?

In recent times, some pro-Indian nationals and Bhutanese have established an online journal to promote various hydropower projects. They call themselves the Hydropower Team, but no one knows who they are. They have pirated photos from others’ websites. We need to identify who these people are.

Long-term vision
The Maoists need to understand that Nepal must be self-reliant and independent in terms of energy. They should be able to have a long-term vision that electricity must replace oil, which is expensive. And in harnessing the rivers for hydropower, we must be able to secure our interest and sovereignty. If there is a strong necessity for a mega hydropower project, then there should be national consensus, and should be agreed upon only after necessary assessment and respecting the rights of the people.
(Subedi is an advocate and currently studying at Columbia University in New York city)

Note: The article has been reproduced from The Rising Nepal for greater publicity