Kathmandu, Mar. 12:Deputy Prime Minister Ramchandra Poudel says that despite having enough prospect for water resources development, Nepal is not able to properly harness it and under such circumstances, if we can develop indigenous renewable energy sector this will help in elevating the living standard of the rural people as well as in poverty alleviation.
Deputy Prime Minister Poudel was inaugurating in Lalitpur today a day-long national workshop organised by the Engineering Institute, Energy Study Centre in co-operation with the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre with a view to giving final shape to the 20-year renewable energy plan.
If the human management could be improved and water resources harnessed in the country this would be a great turning point for the country, he observed.
A sustainable development in the country would be possible only through the technology best suited to its natural, geographical and social condition, he said.
With the political changes of the Bikram year-2046 came political polarisation in each and every sectors, thereby creating a crisis of confidence and a sense insecurity, he noted, adding that a good governance would be maintained in the country if all worked in accordance with their responsibilities and duties.
“Energy brings dynamism, activity and liveliness and development, in other words, is dynamism and liveliness ” he said.
From the chair, T.U. Vice Chancellor Nabin Prakash Jung Shah said that if it was possible to mobilise intellectual resources in resolving the physical, social and cultural problems facing the country this would prove to be very effective.
He also stressed the need for the government, academic institutions and private sector to act in a well-co-ordinated manner.
Secretary in the Ministry of Population and Environment Dr Govinda Raj Bhatt stressed the need to develop the Ministry as a ministry of energy and environment.
Dean of the Institute of Engineering Prof. Dr Jivraj Pokharel described as “highly useful” the report on a long term renewable energy plan prepared by Nepalese experts.
Alternative energy promotion centre executive director Shyam Lal Vaidya said the centre had been carrying out various activities in the field of renewable energy since its inception three years ago. He also informed the workshop that a policy on grant for renewable energy would be brought soon.
Director of the Centre Prof. Nagannath Shrestha said average energy consumption was quite low in Nepal as compared to other countries and therefore, a long-term plan was being formulation to emphasise decentralised energy production.
On the occasion, Secretary in the Ministry of Science and Technology Mohan Bahadur Karki, Engineering College (Pulchowk) Campus Chief Prof. Dr. Mukunda Singh Pradhan also shed light on the long term energy plan.
25 delegates from various government, nogs associated in the energy sector participated in the workshop.