Power alternatives

In spite of Nepal’s huge hydropower generating potential, we are constantly subjected to extended hours of power cuts with every passing day.

This is because the demand for electricity has exceeded the supply. In the towns and cities, people’s livelihood partly or wholly depends on the availability of electricity. The government in order to meet the current demand has promised to generate 10 thousand MW of hydropower within a decade. The source of the investment amounting to multi-billion dollars is, however, open to debate.

The government, instead of planning to install diesel plants that would cost Nepalis a fortune, should rather come up with better alternatives to overcome the present energy crisis.

Implementing an effective monitoring system can prevent commercial and technical losses.

Focusing on constructing new prioritised hydropower projects such as Tama Koshi and Kulekhani III will be much better.

Kamal Raj Dhungel, via e-mail

Way out

Occurrences of violent events in these times have concerned everyone in the country. The attack on the Himalmedia, the protests stopping normal work in the Universal Medical College of Bhairahawa and the Model Hospital in Kathmandu are matters of concern. It is true that the workers in any institution may have their grievances but the extreme step of resorting to physical violence or the closure of normal work in hospitals is unfortunate. When issues can be dealt with through appropriate dialogue between the concerned parties, such extreme steps are uncalled for. The workers in any institution also have their responsibility of

maintaining the dignity of the place where they work in.

Similarly, the management concerned too has the responsibility of seeing that its employees are receiving fair pay and other facilities. But, personal vendetta must not be the reason for trying to shut down any institution. Protests are fine and there can be ways to address the problems through talks.

However, the tendency these days is to force the demands instead of following accepted methods. I believe whatever the problem, it is best to sit down at the table to sort out issues. If it does not lead to any solution, then the government’s line agencies could look into the issue. Maybe this can reduce the violence that is being seen nowadays in almost every sphere

of national activity.

Manit Deokota, Sukkhedhara, Kathmandu

Redundant

I disagree with the letter that the vacant seats at the National Planning Commission (NPC) should be filled as soon as possible “Right move” (THT, Dec. 24). Since its inception, the NPC has never been able to suggest concrete plans, especially in dealing with the rising unemployment problem in the country.

The migration of Nepali youth to the foreign capitalist economies was never planned by the NPC, whose remittances have become a major source of national income.

I would like to suggest that the government immediately dissolve NPC. The unnecessary budget that is wasted in financing the operation of NPC should instead be invested in job creation.

Rabi Manandhar, Kathmandu