What is going on in Hisila's office these days? Her recent activities dealing with the ADB on the Melamchi Project say she is on the route 180 degree apart from the route she was on few weeks ago. She is not talking same as what she used to talk just a couple of weeks before. Such a rapid and dramatic change hints some serious problem with her.

She was wrong in the past to exhibit her rigid character proving herself very childish in leading a development project. Any steps in the direction toward correcting those mistakes should be appreciated. But the way she is correcting herself right now seems very abnormal to me. I can't stop laughing at her after reading the news on her recent moves. She wrote to ADB that her office and herself is ready to be flexible as much as ADB wants - hey what is this? Isn't this a complete surrender? Hey, maoist think tank, are you advising her to do this? : what are you doing with this educated minister? Are you making her fool or she decided to prove herself fool ? She has talked a lot after ADB scuffle, raised many public issues, and talked a lot about alternate plans and blah blah. What happened to all those issues and plans? Is she consistent with her own opinion yet? Is she confident enough on what she is doing now is according to her thoughts? Does she not need to clear out the questions raised by herself as the top executive officer before making a U turn in her policy? I am not getting answers right here.

I had argued before that Yemi might have turned out to be a war veteran - who lacks ability to be productive despite bagging academic qualification and expertise. To place a war veteran in public service and in decision making position could be fatal because they are not mentally healthy people even though they look quite normal. Yami's lost confidence on herself display the similar phenomenon because her thoughts, talks and beliefs are not in-line with her acts.

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What Hisila Yami was trying to prove is that being the wife of baburam bhattrai and a rebel leader she knows whats best and all the other people think shit.Well when youknow that you're country's not in a position to bargain about anything there's no shit in trying to prove that ure the almighty to change everything.My opinion about this matter is that the maoists decided to stop th eproject thinking that they did not get the share (commission)from adb when the project was signed so they just need their share.When ADB showed them their ass she is now ready for everything.

हे असार मा आँखा फुट्या गोरु हरु हो -- केही न पढि न भुझी न बोलन Please

La Padha tala ani bhana

सेभर्नटे्रन्टबाहेकका सबै सर्त सरकारले पूरा गर्ने



कास


काठमाडौं, असार ३ - भौतिक योजना तथा निर्माणमन्त्री हिसिला यमीले सेभर्न ट्रेन्टबाहेक एसियाली विकास बैंक -एडीबी) का सबै सर्त अक्टोबरभित्र पूरा गर्ने प्रतिबद्धता व्यक्त गर्दै काठमाडौं उपत्यकाको खानेपानी वितरण प्रणाली परामर्शदाताबाट सञ्चालन गर्न नयाँ प्रस्ताव गरेकी छन् ।
फिलिपिन्सको मनिलास्थित एडीबी मुख्यालयका महानिर्देशक कुनियो सेन्गालाई आइतबार पत्र लेखी सेभर्न टे्रन्टको ठाउँमा नयाँ व्यवस्थापक नियुक्ति गर्दा लाग्ने करिब दुई वर्षको अन्तरिम अवधिका लागि यमीले उक्त प्रस्ताव गरेकी हुन् ।

अन्तरिम अवधिभित्र सरकारले एडीबीको सर्तअनुसार नयाँ व्यवस्थापक नियुक्त गर्ने, त्यसका लागि पुनः टेन्डर गर्ने, सन्दर्भ सूचीमा परिमार्जन गर्नेलगायतका योजना छ । यो समूहले अघिल्लो सरकारद्वारा गठित काठमाडौं उपत्यका खानेपानी लिमिटेड -केयूकेएल) लाई व्यवस्थापन गर्न मद्दत गर्नेछ । समूहमा व्यवस्थापन, इन्जिनियरिङ र वित्तीय विशेषज्ञ समावेश हुने प्रस्तावमा छ । कम खर्चिलो र सकेसम्म नेपालीलाई अवसर दिनका लागि सेभर्न टे्रन्टको विकल्पका रूपमा यस्तो प्रस्ताव अघि सारिएको मन्त्री यमीले आइतबार कान्तिपुरसित भनिन् ।

एडीबीले गत साता सेभर्न टे्रन्टको विकल्प र उपत्यकाको खानेपानी व्यवस्थापनसम्बद्ध संस्थागत सुधार प्रक्रिया कहिलेसम्म पूरा गर्ने भनी मन्त्री यमीलाई पत्राचार गरेको थियो । त्यसको जवाफमा यमीले आगामी सेप्टेम्बरभित्र सरकारले उपत्यकाको खानेपानी व्यवस्थापनसम्बद्ध संस्थागत सुधार पूरा गर्ने प्रतिबद्धता व्यक्त गरेको छ ।



Posted on: 2007-06-17 21:03:57

It might be easy for Yami to fool his blind supporters but not all. She doesn't have any issue now against the theory of handing over the management authority to any other companies like ST but not the ST. Hey, note that ADB is not supporting ST but a company that came to work in Nepal after a long process of contract solicitation that was the lonely company the ST. Yes, the ST has withdrawn himself from the deal. So, I don't see any point on Yemi's word saying that "we accept everything except the ST". Look, the ST is already no more on the scene. But, there is no guarantee that a new contracter could be any better than the ST. It might be even worse.

Another aspect we must not forget here is the degree of uncertainty they decided to face on. The ST was the only company interested working in Nepal despite the rising level insurgency and unsecure environment that the maoist created in, putting the whole country into turmoile. But now, the political situation is improving, and many other companies want to hijack the job from the ST, because they do have lower risk and higher profit potential. The interest of these profit seeking companies might have lured the maoist Yemi. God knows if there is any other secret deal between the so-called new company to be awarded the job and the commie Yemi gang.

Again, there is no guarantee that the new company will keep working in Nepal if the political situation turns as bad as in the recent past. If so, what would be the end result? It will bring some loan to feed up some advisors and consultants to re-evaluate the project and prepare more and more documents. It will bring job to some so-called water experts, environmentalists, NGO-INGO leaders, human and social right activists, journalists, all a bunch of word-smiths but will not bring water to the Kathmanduits. The political turmois is certain to occur before and aftermath of the CA. Just keep watching.

असारमा आँखा फुटेको गोरु हो, पहिला मेलम्चि भाड्ने जन्तुहरुको फेरिहस्त पत्तालगाउनु। अनि यमि को वकालत गर्नु।
मेलम्चि को सुरुवात सङै एक हुल बिकास बिरोधी बाँदर हरुले बिरोध जनाउदै आएका थिए। अरुण डुबाए, कालीगण्डकी डुबाउने चेष्टा गरे। कति सफल् भए कति सफल् भएनन्। राष्ट्रियताको संबेदनशील कुरा गर्ने तर बिदेशी इशारा र ड्लरको खेती गर्ने कथित राष्ट्रबादिहरुको जाल झेल मा ३७ लाख उपत्यका बासीको तिर्खा काकाकूल नै रहने बनाउन खोज्दै छन्।
ज्ञानेन्द्र को पहिलो र अन्तिम लक्ष नै मेलम्चि भाड्नु थियो। ज्ञानेन्द्रका तत्कालीन एक जना सहायक मन्त्री सङ संयोग बस भेट् भयो। कुराको सिलसिलामा म पनि खाने पानी सेक्टर् मै काम् गर्छु भने पछि , शाहि मन्त्रीले मेलम्चि को बारेमा जिज्ञासा राखे। आफुले जानेको बुझेको कुरा राख्दा, मन्त्री महोदयले अब जे सुकै भए नि मेलम्चि बन्द गर्नु पर्छ भन, तिमीलाई भने ठाउमा सरुवा गरेइ दिन्छु - भन्ने प्रलोभन देखाए।
मेलम्चि उपत्यकाबासीको बाच्ने आशाको त्यान्द्रो हो। उपत्यका छोडेर कहा जानु त्यहा का वासिन्दाहरु।
उपत्यका का स्थायी वासिन्दा भनेका १३ लाख जनता हुन, बाकी २४ लाख त अस्थायी नै हुन्। ती मध्य होला वाइ सी एल का कथित क्रान्तिकारि लठैतहरु को जमात नै ५० हजार्। तिर्खा सबैलाई लाग्छ, अहिले मन्त्री छिन र पानीको जोहो गर्ने चिन्ता छैनन् होला, यमि जीलाई। तर उहाँकै दिदि मेरा छिमेकि हुन्, पानी न आएको एक जुग बिती सक्यो, पानी कुर्नु र भर्नु को पीडा यमि जी कै आफ्नै दिदीलाई राम्रो सङ थाहा छ।
अर्को कुरा, पैसा माग्नेले आफनो शर्त राख्छ कि, दिने ले? हाम्रा मन्त्री त यस्तो कुरा गर्नु हुन्छ कि, मेलम्चि को लागि ए डी बी मरिहत्ते गरिराख्या छ र त्यसमा लगानी गर्न पाएन भने बैंक डुब्छ। अनि लौ बा तिमीले भनेको शर्त मान्छु, पैसा लग।
जङल् बाट् भर्खर् शहर् पसेका हुन्। शहरि हुनु को सभ्यता र अबस्था बुझी सक्नु भएको छैन।
शालिक तोड्नुमा चाहे लौह पुरुष गणेष मान सिंहको होस् वा भानु भक्त को, गौरब गर्छन्, नव क्रान्तिकारि हरु। अब बनिबनाउ मेलम्चि पनि तोड्फोड् गर्दा बडा मज्जा आयो होला।
अब खानेपानी संस्थान को ब्यबस्थापन नीजी क्षेत्रलाई दिने सवाल मा बबाल जो गरि राख्या छन्, बुझ्ने जो पनि हास्ने छन्। पानी महङो हुन्छ कर्मचारि हटाउछ कामचोरहरुको कुरा सुनेर नि कहाँ हुन्छ र। निजी ब्यबस्थापन ले कर्मचारि हटाउन सक्दैन। हो अस्थायी ज्यालादारि हरु को भने खैरियत छैनन्।
काम चोर् हरुको स्थान् छैन।
यस्तो अस्त ब्यस्त संस्थानले भोलि मेलम्चि को पानी धारामा झर्दा पानीको मुल्य संकलन गर्न सक्दैन भन्ने कुरा मा बैंक चिन्तित हुन स्वाभाबिक छ।
अब ग्लोबल टेण्डर् मार्फत आएको सेभर्न टे्रन्ट लाई बिना प्रतिस्पर्धा आएको भन्ने कुरा त इन्जिनियर पढेकि मन्त्रीलाई सुहाउने कुरा थिएन। अझ ए डी बी ले हात झिके नि केहि फरक् पर्दैन भनेर बडा गजधम्म फुलेर पत्रकार सम्मेलन गर्दा लाग्यो, जङलि साशनको नमूना अझ भनुम् ट्रेलर देखाउदै हुनु हुन्थ्यो।
वाइ सी एल का कर्यकर्ताले त्रीशुलीको पानी बोकेर ल्याउन नसक्ने रेपोर्ट् प्राप्त गर्नु भयो क्या र अब १८० डीग्रीको फन्को मार्नु भयो। अब त्यो ठेकेदार् बाहेक सबै शर्त मान्छु रे। यमि जी बोली ले त अब त्यो सेभर्न टे्रन्टको लाई रातो कार्पेट् बिछ्याएर् स्वागत गर्छु भन्दा पनि २० हात पर बाट् नमस्ते गरेर फर्कन्छ।
हेर्दै जानुस्, अझ कति झुक्ने छन्। प्रकिति नियम लाई पनि बन्दूकले परिवर्तन गर्न सक्छु भन्ने भ्रम जो बोकेका छन् र सपना जो बेचि रहेकाछन्, एक् दिन टुट्छ र छताछुल्ल हुन्छ। त्यहि भएर पनि संबिधान सभाको चुनाव चाहिरहेका छैनन्, संसदबाट् गणतन्त्र चाहियो रे। जनताको मतले भनुम् न गणतन्त्र अथवा गन तन्त्र।

म राहुलभाईको कुरो सँग लगभग सहमत छु, अलिकति बाहेक।

म पनि यि अरुण बिरोधि र हरेक खालका बिकास बिरोधि सँग आजित भैसकें। त्यो दिपक ज्ञवालि त अरुण बिरोध गरेर मन्त्री भाको हैन, त्यो भो, रत्न संसार भन्ने वकिल, गोपाल सिवाकोटि भन्ने बौलाहा, तिनै हैनन बिरोध गर्दै हिडेका। कसले भन्थ्यो क्यारे, रेन वाटर जम्मा गरेर खानुपर्छ भनेर। ए बाबा, उ बेला भएको भए काठमाण्डु पोखरा सडक बनाउने
बेला यिनीहरु 'हिडेरै जान सकिन्छ, किन बिदेशिको पैसाले बनाउने,वातावरण बिग्रन्छ' भनेर उफ्रन्थे होलान।आफ्नै घरको कलको पानी खानुको आनन्द यिनलाई के था।

अर्को कुरो चाहिं के पनि सत्य हो भने यति हुदाहुदै म हिसिलाको धेरै बिरोध गर्दिन। हाम्रो देशको मन्त्रिले मलाई यो कम्पनी ठिकलागेन, अर्को ट्राइ गरम भन्दा असि लाखको कम्पनिलाई लिएर चौतिस करोड को लोन दिन्न, पश्चिम् सेति मा दिन्न भन्नु को अर्थ त्यो एडिबि पनि घुसैघुसमा टन्न डुबेको छ भन्ने देखाउछ। हामीले सोचेका हौलाम कि विश्व ब्यांक, एडिबि जस्ता निकाय किन भ्रष्ट हुन्थे भनेर, तर तिनीहरु त झन छोइसक्नु छैन। एडिबिको कन्ट्रि डिरेक्टरले सेवेन ट्रेन्ट सँग के डिल गरेको छ, नत्र कुनै पनि ब्यांक तेसरी यौटा सानो कम्पनिको लागि मरिहत्ते गरेर उफ्रदैन। अनि हिसिलाले पनि बुझ्नु पर्छ कि आजीवन उहाँहरुले उद्योगपतिहरुलाई रुवाउनु भयो, ब्यापार धन्दा गरेर खाने मान्छेलाई सताउनु भयो, अहिले उहाँहरुले भन्नेबित्तिकै पैसा भएपनि कुन ब्यापारीले निकाल्छ र? त्यहि भएर हरेक देशमा साहु महाजन चाहिने हो। नभए सानो सानो कुरोको लागि पनि बिदेशी सँग हात फैलाउनु पर्ने हुन्छ।
अर्को कुरो एडिबि पनि आजकल समस्या ग्रस्त छ, तिनिहरुलाई पनि पहिला जस्तो रिन माग्ने देशको कमी भएर अब रिन दिनेलिने धन्दै बन्द गर्न पर्‍यो भन्ने भाछ।१९६० को दशकमा एडिबिको स्थापना हुदा एसिया का देशहरु गरिब थिए, वेस्ट सँग पैसाको छ्यालब्याल। अहिले उल्टो छ। एसियन देशहरु सँग टन्नै बचत छ, हाम्रै बचत दुइ अरब डलर छ, मेलम्चिको लागि रिनै लिनुपर्छ भन्ने स्थिति चाहि छैन। यसैले ब्यांकले अन्तमा हामीलाई रिन चाहि दिन्छ, एकप्रतिशत ब्याज भनेपनि आउँछ भनेर।

गएको बर्ष हो क्यारे तिनिहरुको सबैभन्दा ठुलो रिन लिने देश चिन, उसले पनि एडिबिलाई आफैले पैसा पनि सापटि दिन्छ, भने पछि उसले रिनलिएको भनेको आफ्नै पैसा आफैले लिएको जस्तो थियो। भविष्यमा एडिबिले खाली कन्सल्टेन्सि मात्रै गर्ने कुरो आइराखेको छ।
मेरो बिचारमा मेलम्चि अन्ततोगत्वा बन्छ। माओबादिलाई पनि अलिअलि भोग चाहिएको थियो, मिल्यो। अब यसले हाम्रो देशलाई लङ टर्म मा राम्रै गर्छ, बिकास बिरोधि ज्ञवालि, सिवाकोटि जस्ता तत्वहरु बिस्तारै नांगेझार हुदै जान्छन, र देशले फड्को मार्नेछ भन्ने आशा गर्छु म।काठमाण्दुका जनताले पनि आफ्नै घरमा धारामा पानि आउँदा कस्तो हुनेरैछ भनेर जान्न पाउनेछन।मलाई सोध्नु हुन्छ भने आफ्नो कलको धाराम मुख जोडेर शुद्ध पानी पिउन पाउनुको मुल्य अनमोल छ, अलिअलि बढि पैसा तिरेर केहि फरक पर्दैन। दिन रात पानी नआएर, घैटो बोकेर लाजैमर्नु सँग सुक्खा धारो मुनि कुर्नु को राष्ट्रिय बेइज्जतिको मुल्य कति नि?

Arun III, Madhya Marshyangdi, even SETI, all these hydel power projects are a joke. We have seen time and again that Nepalese people can make better hydel projects at much less (at 30% to 50% the cost of bigger projects funded by foreigners), so instead of promoting these big projects, why not promote smaller projects. Why is the NEA refusing PPA agreements with smaller companies, why are the banks not so interested in funding these projects. Why can't the government take initiatives to promote smaller hydel at every level.

All Nepali Invested hydel projects (besides NEA) are costing less than $2500 per KW (and interestingly even these numbers are inlfated for bank financing, actual cost is less than $2000 per KW)

According to Mr. Kanksakar Arun III- cost estimate at $5300 per KW, and Mr. Kansakar also claims that the financing bank had condition that NEA could not do PPA for projects less than 10 MW projects.

Madhya Marshyandi- cost is more than $8300 per KW

SETI- The SMEC project is held by them since 10 years and nothing happened. And everyone knows the recent deal where they would offer NEA the promissed money (not power as agreed when they started) if they have SURPLUS. The new proposal to build another power plant to offer the power is (and will be) another joke. Will the power plant ever be built?

So rather than blaming these "Dollar" lawyers, experts, we should blame the inconsistent, corrupt and "desh drohi" beareaucrats that are ruining these projects who are always making decisions for the other side. The incompetent and not knowlodgable and equally corrupt leadership should equally share the blame.

Taat,

Cost alone is not always the best indicator of what things are.

For example, if you buy chinese shirt, you may get it at Rs 200. But if you buy Burberry, the cost goes up. Does that mean Burberry deal is necessarily bad?

The reason why Madhyamarsyangdi cost have gone up is really sad. It was because our people who did the sandhi were spinless, and the German imposed bad conditions on us. But this doesn't justify using 'homegrown' technology, panighatta bijuli and remaining backward forever. we must learn how to walk along with the most advanced countries of the world, by learning these technology.

These dollar lawyers are actually funded by several agencies, but most importantly also by India. I have talked with a lot of NEA officers, and all point their finger to India. India doesn't want to talk about water sharing with Bangladesh and Ne pal together, because with Nepal they claim that they have absolute territorial integrity rights over water, while with Bangladesh they claim that they have absolute territorial sovereignty rights. What that means is that with Nepal, they say, Nepal can't unilaterally use the water that flows to India. (they need water badly in Ganges basin, and for diversion in Farakka barrage). With Bangladesh, they claim that they can do with water whatever they want in India. So they normally oppose any project that requires diversion of water, or intertemporal storage of water, because that is not in their interest--unless of course they get to control the project.

Hope you get it.

Pire: Can you name one incompetent Nepali "Home Grown" project??

Madhya Marshyandi was an unfortunate project, so was Kulekhani (tyatro run-off river haru huda hudai we had to produce electricity from rain water collection).

So you are telling me home grown projects are worse because they cost less.

Only one thing I like about these big projects (no matter what the cost) is these are invested by big companies with financial backing from big banks, which can better negotiate with India than our government if they are allowed to sell electricity to India. Other than that, your argument that because you talked to people at NEA does not suffice that India is backing these "dollar" lawyers.

If these lawyers benefited so much from India, have you done a background check on them? How much money they have made? And lets compare the wealth accumulated by the bureaucrats at the NEA and these Indian mouthpieces, then only you can justify your answer.

TAAT जी तपाई ले उल्लेख गर्नु भएको कंसाकार् को पूरा नाम र परिचय पाउं न त।
सानो आयोजनाको सुन्दरता नकार्न सकिन्न भने जस्तै ठुला आयोजनाको मह्त्व पनि कम भन्न मिल्दैन। दुबै को आ=अफ्नो स्थान छ। तर कुरो नेपालको सम्बन्धमा भने अर्कै छ। बिकाश बिरोधि तत्वहरु छन, सुन्दर र संबेदनशील कुरा उठाएर अर्कै को दलालीगरि राखेका हुन्छन्। झुठ् बोल्नु मात्र होइन, झुठ्ठा तथ्यांकलाई बिकाउन जान्ने महारथिहरु छन्, ती बाँदरहरुको जमातमा।
अमेरिकाबाट् अन्डर् ग्राड् गरेको ब्यक्ति देशका सबै भन्दा बिकाउ वातावरणबिद रे, तिनीपनि त्यहि समूहमा झूठ बेच्दै छन्।

TAAT,

Can I show you one project that is inferior? Of course, I can. Several locally developed projects are unequipped to cope with peak demand, they can't supply electricity to industry should that be the case, and more than that, the electricity supplied tend to be very dim. I wouldn't even go to other project, even the so called most effective Ghandruk ko hydro is also dim and unreliable, and can't cope with the demand surge if ,say, all people want to cook food with electricity.

I mean, you should realise that for a country like ours with so much hydropower potential, it is a joke to say we should use turbine to produce small hydro. We should produce a lot, harness our river, and sell it to wherever we get. Even India will buy, since they can use it as an instrument to adjust their fluctuation in demand during peak hours, and India will buy it not because they love us or anything, it is just going to be a pure case of trade.

Now, for your assertion that dollar lawyers and bikasbid like gyawali and shivakoti chinta etc are not rich, I don't know what to say. Just show me rich bureaucrat, then. I have met all these sad faced bureaucrats who have retired, and are surviving in meagre retirement, and are so vociferously against these bikasbirodhi, 'we-can-live-in-dim-light-but-we-don't-need-technology' type foreign agents. As for India's role, it is gham jastai chharlanga to everybody in Nepal: from bureaucrats, journalists to even these bikasbirodhi themselves.

I thought we were talking about a ruined expert in executive post and her extra-ordinary swift of policy and strategy. But the issue is widened to other sector as well.

Pire, I donot defend whether ADB's favor to ST is right or not. But in a corporate practice an organization always tries to defend other organizations who are supposed to work for it. For example, Apple tries to defend Intel as long as Intel keeps working for Apple. If Apple stops defending Intel in disputes, then it means these two companies are not gonna work together. So, I don't make the issue of ADB's love to ST a big deal. In addition to that, ST was a lone-bidder, and perhaps ADB was prepared to work with them. A sudden change in policy of Nepal's government will take them some time and effort to gain the momentum of their work spirit, which are understood cases. Yes, we have right to question if ADB country director have had some vested interest with the ST, but as it is seen that the ST walked out from the scuffle without making any cry, such an interest is unlikely to exist.

On the other hand, Yemi has right to cancel terms with ST but its her duty to convince other stakeholders at first. We should not forget that the task flow should progress on a set program. The decision for ST was taken much ahead than Yemi to hold the position. She can't say मलाइ मन परेन, at any point of the time nullifying past efforts otherwise, there is a risk of changing decisions everywhile a minister changes, which disrupts the consistency in the policy leading the entire program into an obvious failure. Such a risk is not accepted by funding agencies and investors. You understand well why a comunist autocratic China and Vietnam are more successful to attract investors than democratic India and Bangladesh. Its because the investors want stable and consistent policy to minimize their risk rather than political choir and democracy. In fact, the melamchi case is also a litmus-test for maoists, in which, I consider, they failed.

Not only the break in the consistency of the policy, Yemi also ignored ADB's first hand warning that was humiliating a major donor catalyst the ADB. Note that ADB is just a loan provider but the significant part is other donation (in fact the soft loan, that is supposed to turn into donation later on) coming from institutions like JIBC which Nepal surely loses in several of other parallel and follow up projects (as claimed by Dr. Mahat). This shows a total abscence of managerial skill with this so-called educated minister to deal the situation. The result, we see - absence of confidence and functional policy.

(will write about energy and hydropower later on)

Rahulbhai- Ratan Sagar Kansakar is a well known figure in the hydro power industry. He is for smaller hydro power projects built by Nepalese rather than bigger ones.

Pire: You want people to drive Mercedees and BMW's in Nepal rather than the Maruti's. It is a wishful thinking. Of course Mercedees and BMW's are better quality, but the reality is we can even barely afford even Maruti. No wonder ADB and World Bank pressures NEA every year to increase the tarriff every year. Now if the tarriff is going to go up like they want, we will probably have to start cooking our Gundruk with daura or gober gas.

Lok Man Singh Karki is a good name to start with a corrupt official that was at NEA.

I remember an article in Himal (or Kantipur ?) written by RatnaSansar some weeks ago. He was claiming that the failure of Arun is turned to be good for Nepal, in terms of added MW in the national grid at the direct cost expensed.

I found the article grossly misleading and based on very superficial algebra of MW ratings. Such a small scale projects definitely lack quality and reliability of service at the needed time. There is not a systematic study done on the efficiency and additional cost required to make an integrated system of small scale projects that provides reliable energy supply in Nepal through national grid. Supplying energy to run industries require un-interrupted supply of constant frequncy, voltage and current, which are different in nature from the domestic electrification. If Mr. RatnaSansar would take these factors into consideration, he may need to conclude his article in a different way.

However, I favor empowering local experts, local technology and local materials if possible, which is painful and time consuming. We can't have all knowledge, manpower and material overnight. We must promote small and big projects involving more local experts and using local technology, which will require a culture of research and development. This is a long time taking process. Are we in a position to be optimistic in this direction ? We are compelled to say NO sadly viewing the political condition of Nepal and greater public attention to dollar-fed activists than hard working engineers.

Our greatest unfortunate is that we tend to listen more to problem creater rather than solution seeker. Someone mentioned above Gyawali. Dixit, Chintan et al whose voice is widely heard. My question is, do they have worked on building any of the major hydro-water resources projects in Nepal? Did they contributed to make development and environment any better? They have produced volumes of reports and only God knows the number of million dollars they have consumed for that. Their performance, if calculated based on per dollar of expense, would come to be far below than an undergraduate student in Nepal. But still these type of people rock in Nepal everywhere, from water to education to poverty alleviation yo peace process to good governance to human rights. They are having disgusting mafia network. And now I suspect the same mafia is fooling Yemi badly.

On a side note, Taat mentioned Ratan Sagar Kansakar but I have never heard this name in water resources, neither could I find him in google.

chana,

I agree with you.

That Ratna Sansar's article was so misleading. Whenever you are making counterfactual argument, you should be able to back it up with honest statistical research. But no, the man just wrote something and Kantipur lapped it up. In a country, where sensationalism trumps honest research, what do you expect?

Now, to develop local expertise, we first need to be exposed to foreign expertise, we need to have hundreds of engineers who know what big scale projects are. But if you continue to scare high tech venture, when will we ever have a export oriented hydro industry? Never.

It is sexy to oppose projects in Nepal. When Arun was being made, dollar chewing NGO/INGOwallahs made line to present their argument in World Bank. These America educated men were definitely more impressive than our two-hundred-dollar-per-month earning civil servants, and they were able to kill Arun. After a few months, the world bank approved six times bigger Pakistan's Ghazi project. How come India, China, Pakistan all could make big projects, how come USA, Swiss do that, and we are the only people who should worry about environment? Isn't it a bit funny?

When NEA signs PPA with the smaller companies the following are a must:

1. The agreement requires the power to be fulfilled by the powerplant at all times (wet or dry season), otherwise the power plants are penalized for low power supply. The excess power (excee of the agreed power production) is not paid even if sent to the grid. Bhote Koshi signed PPA for 36 MW but runs 45 MW generators. They have been trying to find ways to sell the extra power to India and have been promoting deregulation that they can lease the power grid from NEA to sell directly to India or the end consumer within Nepal.

2. Another interesting thing was Standard Charter Bank did not want to finance any hydro power projects within Nepal because they believed the way NEA was going bankrupt soon and the PPA's would not be valid.

3. NEA requires the power plants to connect to the NEA grid at power plant's expense, but as soon as it is connected, the grid (or the connection) is automatically owned by them.
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I understand the sentiment that we should get all the big international companies to invest in Nepal and harness the power which has been going to waste every second. But so far, the foreign invements or the power agreements (remember Mahakali treaty) has barely given us anything we can be proud of. Kaali Gandaki, had its own problem last year and was only able to harness 1/2 the power last year. Problems at Kulekhani, Marshyangdi, have also created problems in the last few years. Unless the paraffin wax suppliers (candles are made out of them) played their game to create this problem, bigger(higher cost = higher quality) is better concept is worthless as well.

PPA and power purchase economy is a tricky business. It is hard to generalize the cases with individual projects and/or individual banks unless there is a strong and convinicing policy. NEA agreed to pay higher rates to Bhotikoshi and Khimti but not to other late comers. This is obvious, because such an agreement is also the function of supply-demand and future projection statistics. I personally do not agree on the exemption of cost factors of distribution network to the energy producer as it risks no-improvement of grids.

However, the government is supposed to work for a consistent policy, not like Yemi's way. Also, public are to support more to solution seeker rather than problem creater. If mass media, public support, beauroctats and politicians are always to run behind dollar fed anti-development activists, then they will establish as a roll model in our society. In such a case everybody will try to follow them, work hard to be the next Chintan in Nepal for his comfortable personal living. Even now, we already have a plenty of mini-Chintans on ground, who do not care of development and broader benefit to Nepal, but just care their personal network and source of income. Mini-Chintans are everywhere in Nepal around all influencial politicians and government offices trickling saliva for a chance to stump.

हुन त असम्भव भन्ने यो संसारमा केही छैन भन्छन र साथै कल्पना नै नगर्ने हो भने काम पनि कसरी हुन्थ्यो र? तर हिसिला यमीको यो प्लान चाहिँ मलाई आफूले मेलम्ची आयोजना लगभग स्वाहा पारेकोमा जनतामा गिरेको आफ्नो छवीलाई सपार्न हतारमा ल्याइएको सपना जस्तो लाग्यो।

हैन भने अहिलेको जस्तो सरकारले २० बर्षे आयोजना ल्याउनु कहाँसम्म जाहेज हो? गर्नु केही पर्दैन, गफै मात्र मार्ने त हो नि! बरु आफ्नो छोटो कार्यकालमा आफ्नो सारा शक्ति गर्न सकिने आयोजनामा लगाउन सके राम्रो हुन्थ्यो कि? पैसा न सैसा टिकी ट्याँस ट्याँस!

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Govt unveils ambitious roadways, drinking water expansion plans


Kantipur Report


KATHMANDU, June 20 -
Minister for Physical Planning and Works Hisila Yami Wenesday publicized the ministry's short-term and long-term plans for a massive expansion of existing national infrastructures.

Speaking at the press meet organized at the ministry in Singhdurbar this afternoon, Minister Yami publicized programmes that ranged from one year to as long as twenty years.

Ambitious one year immediate plans, three-year middle-term and twenty-year long-term plans to construct roadways, drinking water and other infrastructures were also unveiled today.

According to the proposed plans, Bajhang, Bhojpur, Sankhuwasabha and Jajarkot headquarters will be connected through roadways within a year.

The ministry has plans to construct 30 concrete bridges and carry out maintenance of some 4,200 km of the existing roadways in the period of one year.

The ministry has projected an ambitious programme to improve the condition of existent roadways and build a network or roadways in inner Madhesh and hilly regions across the country.

Similarly, the ministry has also published a plan to connect India and China with another half a dozen new roadways within the next three years. According to the proposed plan, the ministry aims at connecting Galchi, Trishuli, Ratuwagadi, Biratnager, Lo-manthang, Janakpur, Butwal, Bhairawa, Dolakha, Lamobagar and Mustang through roadways in this period.

Meanwhile, the ministry also plans to connect Humla, Manang, Khotang, Solukhumbu and other remote areas of the hilly region with roadways in the same time span of three years.

The ministry has also unveiled a plan to connect the capital with other parts of Terai region through air or tunnel way and construct at least two railway tracks in the region. It has also planned to initiate the process of ropeways construction as well as waterways in the region.

Similarly, the ministry also has plans to take new initiatives regarding the troubled Melamchi Drinking Water Project.

It has also unveiled a plan to construct 80 drinking water projects in the country within next year. By the end of 2017, the ministry plans to mobilize available resources to ensure that the entire population of the country has access to clean drinking water.

Likewise, as a part of "Kathmandu Valley Campaign", dozens of construction plans have been proposed which include widening of certain section of the Ring Road and black-topping of already expanded road sections of Soaltee Mod and Kalanki.

The ministry has also proposed plans to construct three model cities, one each in eastern, middle and western regions of the country, and altogether 15 model villages in the country.

All the proposed plans will be implemented once the Cabinet meeting gives an approval.



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I liked this remark :

पैसा न सैसा टिकी ट्याँस ट्याँस!

That explains all.