Monsoon power cut

I would like to thank THT for publishing the insightful news report “You’ve got to live with loadshedding” (August 21). The report removed the doubt among Nepalis regarding the

rationale for continued loadshedding even during the height of the monsoon season. As the report hints, the layman believes the more the water falling from the skies, the more the

generation of electricity from hydropower plants. But, as has been made clear, power generation depends as much on the type of hydropower plants. Nepal unfortunately has only one reservoir-fed plant at Kulekhani which can store water for future power generation. All the rest are run of the river plants with no facilities for storing excess water for future use.

It goes without saying that the country needs more reservoir-fed plants. I wonder if it is possible to convert the existing run of the river plants into reservoir-fed ones at a

modest cost. If not, Nepalis are likely to face loadshedding for years and years to come even though some of the big projects are in the pipeline, as demand will continue to outstrip supply.

Sanjeev Dahal, via e-mail

Useless

This refers to the news report “Formal Govt-MJF talks stalled” (THT, August 22). I see no point in continuing with the talks when neither side is ready to concede an inch.

Negotiations can only take place when there is give and take so that no side loses face at the end of the day. As things stand, neither the government talks team headed by minister for peace and reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel nor the MFJ delegation led by its

chairman Upendra Yadav has agreed on what to talk about. Hence what is the use of continuing with the talks until both the sides can put forward concrete proposals and recognise the importance of compromise. Moreover, it would be much better if the government held talks with all the agitating Tarai groups at one place and at one time so that agreement with one group does not go against the demands of other groups and complicate matters further.

Surendra Pandey, via e-mail

Unfair

The withdrawal of political cases against Maoist leaders wasn’t surprising. After all, the Maoists are well on the road to becoming a mainstream political party. And yet, not all past actions of the Maoists can be forgiven. Even today, the Maoists have not completely abandoned violence. If the guilty in the Maoist rank and file cannot be punished they should at least be held accountable for their past crimes.

Abijit Sharma, Dhapasi, Kathmandu

Inspiring

Apropos of the article “Gen-Now speaks up” (THT, August 18), I was regretting why I had joined the Bachelor’s Degree course here instead of going abroad as most of my friends had done. All I could think about was to finish my course as soon as possible and leave the country. But after getting to know about three generation-X success stories right here in Nepal, I was forced to reconsider my gloomy outlook. THT should publish similar stories that will inspire the youth to do something in their own country instead of seeking greener pastures abroad.

Shailesh Adhikari, Bishalnagar