Due to the unofficial economic blockade to Nepal by India, we are facing acute problems of shortages in petroleum products and other essential commodities. We are heavily dependent on India for the supply of petroleum products. Despite facing such blockades twice in recent times, still we are facing the same problem now. It shows that the Nepalese leadership is not taking the matter seriously being unprepared for such incidents in the future. Still we have time to react and start searching ways for self dependency in the energy sector. We have huge potentials of generating hydro electricity from the abundant water resources, energy from wind mills and the potential of petroleum has yet to be explored. Furthermore, the climate of Nepal is also suitable for solar energy that can reduce the perennial load shedding.

If we can generate enough electricity from water resources, wind and solar we don’t need to rely on any country for fuel. We can gradually change the way of cooking from LPG gas to electric heating systems, encourage electric vehicles, and rebuild the transportation system like trolley bus, electric metro. By doing this we will be decreasing the dependency for fuel on other countries by promoting our economy and building eco-friendly environment at the same time. This is a good time to start all these, otherwise we will only be waiting for another blockade in the future.

Electricity itself is not enough to run the country’s economy. We also need to be independent on fossil fuel by exploring the possibility of its availability from within the country. The areas possessing potential petroleum products should be explored without further delay.

Rasbin Rijal, Biratnagar

Trafficking

Time has come for the Nepalese government to do something effective, needful and even positive in order to deal with the problem of human trafficking which has been a major problem for Nepal for many years. Honestly speaking, the problem has been serious when it comes to women of the country as they are the ones who are being sold outside the country. Previously India used to be the main country where women used to get trafficked mainly for prostitution which is regarded as a social crime in South Asia. Currently large chunks of women, especially those living in the rural areas, are trafficked to China, the Middle East and Africa. The government of the country  lacks plans, policies and programmes  to do away with such a major problem.

Although it’s a well-known fact that human trafficking is one of the most serious crimes which has affected almost every country around the world, there’s no concrete steps being taken. Even in our country, the problem is now on the rise. What’s really important right now is for the government of Nepal to launch a campaign in order to solve this problem forever.

Pratik Shrestha, Kathmandu