Out on a limb

Dewan Rai

Last Dasain, villagers in Gaurikhan of Dadeldhura were woken up by a fleet of bulldozers roaring through the thick sal forests nearby. They were happy because it shortened their trip to Mahendranagar.

A 25-km road was constructed through the community forests on Chure hills, but suspicions were aroused because a road for just four households seemed fishy. The corruption watchdog, CIAA, started investigating.

"All evidence point to a premeditated plan involving political leaders, forest officials, user group members, contractors and local authority," says Krishna Prasad Dhungel at the CIAA. "It is impossible for smugglers alone to successfully carry out a plan of that magnitude without political protection."

Dhungel's investigation team visited the field last month and found loggers used chain saws to fell trees and truck them away on the newly-constructed road. He counted at least 25 trucks in Jogbudha valley alone. The team found that timber worth Rs 12 million was cut from six community forests in two months.

पश्चिम सेती बनाउन चिनियाँ कम्पनीसंग सहमति

सात सय पचास मेगावाटको जलाशययुक्त पश्चिम सेती आयोजना नेपालकै आन्तरीक खपतका लागि निर्माण गरिने गरी एउटा चिनियाँ कम्पनीसंग सरकारले बुधबार सहमति गरेको छ।

आयोजनाका लागि लाग्ने सवा खर्ब रुपियाँ मध्ये तीन चौथाई उक्त कम्पनीले लगानी गर्ने छ भने नेपाल विद्युत प्राधिकरणका लागि छुट्ट्याइएको बाँकी एक चौथाईका लागि चाहिने पैसाको जोहो समेत उसैले गरिदिने नेपाली अधिकारीहरुले बताएका छन्।

अपरिहार्य

खुरुखुरु प्रक्रिया अघि बढे सात वर्षभित्र बनिसक्ने ठानिएको उक्त आयोजना आगामी वर्षहरुमा लोड शेडिंग हटाउन अपरिहार्य भएको अधिकारीहरुको भनाई छ।

विगतमा एउटा अष्ट्रेलियाली कम्पनी स्मेकले सहमति गरेको १६ वर्षसम्मपनि आयोजना बनाउन नसकेपछि ६ महिना अगाडि पश्चिम सेतीको लाइसेन्स खोसेर सरकार आफैंले लिएको थियो।

त्यसपछि विश्वकै सबभन्दा ठूलो जलविद्युत कम्पनी भनिएको थ्री गोर्जेजसंग महिनौंसम्मको पत्राचार र कुराकानीपछि बुधबार काठमाण्डौंमा प्रारम्भिक सहमति भएको हो।

“सार्वजनिक निजी साझेदारीको आधारमा नेपालको आन्तरीक खपतको लागि विकास गर्ने गरी सम्झौता भएको छ,” पश्चिम सेतीबारे कुराकानी गर्न गठित टोलीका नेता तथा उर्जा मन्त्रालयका प्रवक्ता अर्जुन कार्कीले बताए।

पश्चिम सेती जलविद्युत् निर्माणका लागि आइतबारदेखि छलफल सुरु हुने

ऊर्जा मन्त्री पोष्टबहादुर बोगटीले पश्चिम सेती जलविद्युत् आयोजना निर्माणका लागि चीनको थिर–गोर्जेजसँग आइतबारदेखि छलफल सुरु हुन लागेको बताएका छन्। थिर–गोर्जेजले सरकारी निजी साझेदारीमा यो आयोजना प्रस्ताव गरेपछि आइतबारदेखि वार्ता हुन लागेको हो।ऊर्जा मन्त्रालयले गत महिना उसको प्रस्तावअनुसार वार्ता गर्न यो कम्पनीलाई पत्राचार गरेको थियो। 

'२६ तारिखमा चिनिया टोली आउँदैछ, उनीहरुसँग थप छलफल हुनेछ,' मन्त्री बोगटीले भने। चिनिया पर्व ल्होसारले गर्दा गत महिना आउन नसकेको टोली आइतबार आएपछि वार्ता सुरु हुनेछ।

१६ वर्षसम्म अष्ट्रेलियाको स्मेक कम्पनीले लाइसेन्स लिएर निर्माण सुरु गर्न सकेको थिएन। गत साउनमा सरकारले यसको लाइसेन्स रद्द गरेको थियो। 

पत्रकार विकास थापाद्वारा लिखित 'नेपालमा जलविद्युत्' पुस्तकको विमोचन कार्यक्रममा मन्त्री बोगटीले विद्युत् प्राधिकरणमा कर्मचारी भर्ना गर्नका लागि सबैतिरबाट दबाब भए पनि अहिलेसम्म नगरेको बताए।

पत्रकार थापाले नेपालको जलविद्युत् क्षेत्रका विभिन्न आयामलाई उल्लेख गरेर लेखेको पुस्तकमा जलविद्युत् आयोजनाहरु अघि बढ्न नसक्नुका रहस्य, अरुण तेस्रो आयोजनालगायतका विषयमा रहस्य सार्वजनिक गरेका छन्। झण्डै १८ वर्षसम्म पत्रकारितामा संलग्न रहेका थापाको पुस्तकबारेमा विश्लेषक सौरभ र पूर्व जलस्रोत सचिव सोमनाथ पौडेलले चर्चा गरेका थिए।

श्रोत: www.nagariknews.com 

Piluwakhola Hydropower Project

Arun Valley Hydropower Development Company has constructed and operating Piluwakhola Small Hydropower Project at Sankhuwasava District in Koshi Zone. This is a run of river type project located in Eastern Part of the country at Piluwa River, a tributary of Arun River. The power purchase agreement with Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) was completed in 2000 to supply 19.56GWh per annum. The construction of this project was started in March 2000 and completed in August 2003. The plant started commercial operation from 18 September 2003. The power generated from the project is synchronized into 33kV national grid close to the project and it helped to minimize the system losses. Nearly 300 villages of Sankhuwasabha, Terathum, Bhojpur and Dhankuta districts are directly benefited from the reliable supplied by this project. It has improved the livelihood of people of these areas. 

Salient Features 

Installed Capacity	3.0 MW
Design Discharge	3.5 m3/sec
Gross Head	112.5 meters
Contract Energy	19.547 GWh
Construction Period	36 months
Total Project Cost	NRs. 326.4 million
Cost Per Kilowatt	US$ 1451 Per KW (1 US $ =NRs.75)

First minister-level Nepal-India energy talks in Delhi

ANIL GIRI

Kathmandu, Nepal

Nepal and India are all set to hold the first energy minister-level talks on key issues pertaining to water resources in New Delhi on Wednesday Feb 15th, 2012.

Among other things, the implementation of the Pancheshwar Multi Purpose Project, a part of the Nepal-India Mahakali Treaty, and finalisation of the long-pending Power Trading Agreement (PTA) are the top agendas for the meeting. Energy Minister Post Bahadur Bogati is leading a 22-member Nepali delegation to the talks.

A meeting of the Cabinet on Tuesday decided to send a 20-member delegation to India and approved Nepal’s agendas. Two officials from Nepal’s mission in New Delhi will also join in.

Nepal has made up its mind to request India to give final touches to the long-pending Power Development Agreement (PDA), construction of a 400-KV cross-border transmission corridor between Dhalkebar and Muzaffarpur and importing an additional 200 MW of electricity from the southern neighbour.

“However, we have to hold discussions with them (Indian officials) if they raise the issue of the implementation of the Pancheshwar project. So far, there are no negative talks, although we have been opposing the Mahakali Treaty,” Minister Bogati had told The Kathmandu Post a few days ago.

Wetlands are not wastelands

Bhrikuti Rai

Kathmandu, Nepal

Conservationists battle ignorance and apathy to put Nepal's endangered wetlands on the priority protection list When Nepalis talk about water bodies they often think only about rivers. But for conservationist Top Khatri, it is all about wetlands.However, Khatri, who is the national project manager of Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wetlands in Nepal (CSUWN), says it is difficult to get officials and locals alike interested in marshes, swamps, floodplains and lakes which form a vital part of Nepal's aquatic ecosystem.

"Wetlands are not wastelands," says Khatri, who adds these vital water systems are being threatened by encroachment, pollution and drainage. "There is very little awareness about how important they are for the environment."Although wetlands account for only five percent of Nepal's total surface area, their importance far outstrips their size. Wetlands are vital stopovers for migratory birds, they are rich repositories of biodiversity, they recharge groundwater by storing monsoon runoff during the dry season and they are important for agriculture.

Nepal has 20 wetland ecosystems of global significance, but Khatri worries that they are not given priority in the national agenda. Furthermore, Nepalis have limited knowledge about their importance.

Wetlands in Nepal are home to many of the 89 globally-threatened animal species. Nearly a quarter of the 867 bird species found in Nepal depend on wetlands, including several migratory birds on the brink of extinction."Destruction of wetlands and pollution of rivers and lakes have led to dwindling bird populations and climate change has forced birds to change their migratory patterns," says Hum Bahadur Gurung of Bird Conservation Nepal.

चार महिनामा तीन पटक बिग्रियो गमगाढ विद्युत् आयोजना

तुफान न्यौपाने

जुम्ला, नेपाल

नेपालमा विद्युत् उत्पादन सुरु भएको सय वर्षपछि बनेको मुगुको गमगाढ साना जलविद्युत् आयोजना कमसल सामग्रीका कारण  ४ महिनामै ३ पटक बिग्रिसकेको छ। पछल्लो पटक पाइप फुटेपछि यही मङ्गलबारदेखि सदरमुकाम गमगढी पुन: अँध्यारोमा छ। एक मेघावाट भन्दा साना आयोजना निर्माण नगर्ने निर्णय गरेको प्राधिकरणले ४ सय किलोवाट क्षमताको यो आयोजना आफूले बनाएको अन्तिम सानो आयोजना भएका कारण ऐतिहासिक  बताएको थियो। तर निर्माण सम्पन्न भएको ४ महिनामै विद्युत् गृहमा जोडिएको फलामे पेनस्टक पाइप फुट्दा सदरमुकाम गमगढी र आसपासका बस्तीहरुले ३ पटक अँध्यारो झेलिसकेका छन्। गएको असोज ६ गतेदेखि विद्युत् उत्पादन सुरु गरिएको आयोजनाको एउटै पाइप ३ पटक फुटिसकेको हो।

आयोजना निर्माण कार्यदलका संयोजक हितेन्द्रदेव शाक्यले हप्ता दिनमा मर्मत कार्य सकिने जानकारी दिए। पाइप फुटेपछि यही मङ्गलबारदेखि गमगढी अँध्यारोमा छ। ठेकेदार कम्पनीले कमसल र परीक्षण नगरिएको पाइप खरिद गरेको र लामो समयसम्म पाइपहरु खुला आकासमुनि रहेकाले बेलाबेला पानी चुहिने गरेको आयोजनाले जनाएको छ। संयोजक शाक्यले पनि निर्माणका समयमा कमसल पाइप प्रयोग हुन गएको स्वीकारे।

आयोजनाको निर्माण गर्ने टोलीलाई नै लगाएर अहिले मर्मतको काम भइरहेको छ। तर आयोजनाका मेकानिकल इन्जिनियर काठमाडौंमा भएका कारण हप्ता दिनसम्म पनि मर्मतको काम सकिएको छैन। आर्थिक वर्ष २०५७/०५८ सालबाट निर्माण कार्य सुरु गरिएको यो आयोजना ठेकेदार कम्पनीले निर्माण सम्पन्न गर्न नसकेपछि नेपाल विद्युत् प्राधिकरणले सम्झौता खारेज गर्दै कम्पनीलाई कालो सूचीमा राखेर आयोजानको निर्माण कार्यको जिम्मा आफैंले लिएको थियो। करिब २१ करोड रुपियाँको लागतमा निर्माण गरिएको यो आयोजनबाट सदरमुकाम गमगढीसहित आसपासका ७ गाविसका २ हजार घरधुरीलाई विद्युत् सेवा प्रदान गर्ने लक्ष्य भए पनि अहिलेसम्म ७ सयभन्दा बढी घरमा विद्युत् सेवा पुग्न सकेको छैन।

Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park has long been one the country' treasures of natural wonders. The park is situated in south central Nepal, covering 932 sq. km. in the subtropical lowlands of the inner TERAI. The area comprising the Tikauli forest-from Rapti river to the foothills of the Mahabharat-extending over an area of 175 sq. km. was declared Mrigakunja in 1959. In 1963, the area south of Rapti river was demarcated as a rhinoceros sanctuary. The area was gazetted as the country's first National Park in 1973.

PIC: Jungle Safari at Chitwan national park.  In 1996, an area of 750 sq. km. surrounding the park was declared a buffer zone which consists of forests and private lands. The park and the local people jointly initiate community development activities and manage natural resources in the bufferzone. The Government has made provision of plowing back 30-50 percent of the park revenue for community development in the bufferzone. Chitwan National Park - October to May, Bird Watching - December to March. Maximum temperature can reach up to 95 Fahrenheit (35 C) in April through September. November through February are cooler months with average temperature around 67 Fahrenheit.

Ground-level research

BRITTANY SEARLE

Kathmandu, Nepal

In a unique project Australian and Nepali students study how global warming is affecting wildlife. Since 2007, Jean Marc Hero has been bringing students from Griffith University in Australia to Nepal to take part in expeditions that focus on learning about environmental research and teaching methods.

The Program for Planned Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research (PPBio) aims to establish an international monitoring system that measures biodiversity and the long term effects of climate change. Collaborative efforts between Griffith University and a number of environmental institutions within Nepal have resulted in the formation of PPBio Nepal.

With help from Bird Conservation Nepal, WWF Nepal, the National Trust for Nature Conservation and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Australian and Nepali students from Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University work together to research the minute differences in the habitat due to global warming.

"It's a fantastic collaboration. It's really nice for Australian students to see how many people can come together to get things done," says Hero. Over the four-week course the students witness the ways in which PPBio is aiming to measure the effects of climate change as well as taking part in the various conservation research methods used by researchers in Chitwan National Park. The project is doing more than exposing Australian students to Nepal's environmental challenges, it also allows students to learn ways to deal with conservation and climate change issues.

मध्यमर्स्याङ्दी माघभरि बन्द हुने, लोडसेडिङ १४ घन्टा पुग्ने!

रामचन्द्र भट्ट, काठमाडौं

दिनहुँ ११ घन्टा लोडसेडिङ भइरहेका बेला विद्युत प्राधिकरणले दुई सातापछि मध्यमर्स्याङ्दी जलविद्युत गृह बन्द गर्ने निर्णय गरेको छ। आगामी माघ ८ देखि प्राधिकरणले पूरै महिना मध्यमर्स्याङ्दी बन्द गर्ने लागेको हो। ६९ मेगावाट क्षमताको यो आयोजना बन्द हुँदा कम्तिमा दिनको दुई घन्टा लोडसेडिङ थप हुनेछ। आयोजना बन्द हुँदा लोडसेडिङ दैनिक १४ घन्टा पुग्ने प्राधिकरणका अधिकारीहरूले अनुमान गरेका छन्।

'यसपालि जसरी पनि मर्मत गर्नुपर्ने भएकाले बन्द गर्न लागेका हौं,' प्राधिकरणका निर्देशक मोहनकृष्ण उप्रेतीले भने, 'गत वर्ष नै मर्मत गर्नुपर्ने तालिका थियो।' मध्यमर्स्याङ्दीको परामर्शदाता जर्मन कम्पनी केएफडब्ल्युले गत वर्ष हिउँदमै इलेक्ट्रोमेकानिकलतर्फको मर्मत गर्न प्राधिकरणलाई जानकारी गराएको थियो।

इलेक्ट्रोमेकानिकलअन्तर्गत टर्बाइन, जेनेरेटर, ट्रान्सफर्मरको काम पर्छ। गत वर्ष हिउँदमा दैनिक १४ घन्टा लोडसेडिङ भएकाले त्यसमा बढ्न नदिन मर्मत रोकिएको थियो। यसपालि मर्मत रोके विद्युत गृह दुर्घटनामा पर्ने चेतावनी विदेशी परामर्शदाता कम्पनीले दिएपछि पूरै तीनसाता बन्द गर्न लागिएको हो।

परामर्शदाताले मर्मत गर्न डेढ महिना लाग्ने बताएको छ। प्राधिकरण सञ्चालक समितिले तीन सातामै मर्मत सकेर विद्युत गृह चलाउन निर्देशन दिएको छ। 'त्यतिखेर लोडसेडिङ बढ्ने भएकाले मर्मत गरिएन, यसपालि वर्षाअघि जसरी पनि गर्नुपर्छ,' उप्रेतीले भने।

Rainwater Harvesting

Water is our most precious natural resource and something that most of us take for granted. We are now increasingly becoming aware of the importance of water to our survival and its limited supply, especially in dry season.

The harvesting of rainwater simply involves the collection of water from surfaces on which rain falls, and subsequently storing this water for later use. Normally water is collected from the roofs of buildings and stored in rainwater tanks. The water collected can be considered to be precious.

The collection of rainwater from the roofs of buildings can easily take place. All that is necessary to capture this water is to direct the flow of rainwater from roof gutters to a rainwater storage tank. By doing this, water can be and used for various purposes. It is possible to replace all or at least a substantial portion of your collected fresh water requirements by the capture and storage of rainwater from your roof. Being largely self sufficient in water supply is possible for a vast majority of households and buildings.

Bir Hospital: A model hospital

BHRIKUTI RAI

Kathmandu, Nepal

As hospitals go, Nepal's oldest hospital makes the news for all the wrong reasons: corruption, mismanagement and filth. However, Bir Hospital is becoming a model for recycling hospital waste not only for other hospitals in Nepal but around the world

                                        Pic: Bikram Rai

Each year hospitals in Nepal generate more than 365 tons of medical waste with most of it thrown into municipal garbage dumps: syringes, plastic, bandages and even some human body parts.

In the absence of proper storage, disposal facilities and sterilisation instruments like autoclave and incinerators, Bir Hospital was dumping 323 kg of infectious waste into the public garbage system every day. Not surprisingly, waste had become a major source of infection among patients and staff exposed to the polluted environment.

Last year, the Health Care Waste Management Program was launched with Healthcare Foundation-Nepal (HECAF). Today, Bir is quickly becoming a pioneer in the field of hospital waste management as the hospital now segregates waste at the source significantly reducing the toxicity. The waste is then thoroughly disinfected and passed along for recycling and reuse. "We have been following non-incineration techniques to manage medical waste because of the risks associated with burning them," says Mahesh Nakarmi, director of the Health Waste Management Program.

जलविद्युत् कि पर्यटन?

डम्बरकृष्ण श्रेष्ठ

भोटेकोशी, सिन्धुपाल्चोकमा

अँध्यारोमा बस्नुपरेको जलस्रोतको धनी देश नेपालको लागि विद्युत् जति आवश्यक छ, देशको अर्थतन्त्रमा पर्यटन क्षेत्रको संरक्षण र विकास त्यत्तिकै जरुरी। चिलिमे जलविद्युत् कम्पनी र नेपाल विद्युत् प्राधिकरणले रु.१२ अर्ब २८ करोडको लगानीमा सिन्धुपाल्चोकमा १०२ मेगावाट क्षमताको मध्य भोटेकोशी जलविद्युत् आयोजना निर्माण गर्दैछन्। यसबाट र्‍याफ्टिङ र कायकिङका लागि विश्व प्रसिद्ध भोटेकोशीको आकर्षण गुम्ने भएकाले आयोजनालाई ७५ मेगावाटमा सीमित गरी गातीमा प्रस्तावित विद्युत्गृहलाई सखुवामा सारेर नदी संरक्षण गर्नुपर्ने माग पर्यटन व्यवसायीहरूको छ। तर आयोजना निर्माता र राजनीतिक दलहरू अहिलेलाई पर्यटन भन्दा जलविद्युत् महत्वपूर्ण भएकाले हाल डिजाइन गरिएअनुरुप बनाउनुपर्ने अडानमा छन्।

१० मङ्सिरमा मध्य भोटेकोशी जलविद्युत् कम्पनीले सखुवामा आयोजना गरेको अन्तरक्रियामा नेकपा एमालेका पूर्व सांसद् सुभाष कर्माचार्यको भनाइ थियो, “नदी जोगाउने र पर्यटक ल्याउने कुरा आफ्नो ठाउँमा छ, तर सबैभन्दा पहिले हामीलाई उज्यालो चाहिएको छ।” जलविद्युत्लाई प्राथमिकता दिने र पर्यटनलाई पनि सक्दो जोगाउने कुरा गर्दै एनेकपा मा'वादीका सभासद् राजकुमार श्रेष्ठले तर मध्य भोटेकोशीमा स्थानीय बासिन्दाको जीवनस्तर उकास्न र गाउँ विकास गर्न विद्युत् नै महत्वपूर्ण भएको बताए।

कार्यक्रममा आयोजना प्रबन्धक कुलमानसिंह तामाङले सार्वजनिक-निजी साझ्ेदारीमा बन्न लागेको मध्य भोटेकोशीले तल्लो तहका जनताको आयस्तर बढाउने आकर्षण देखाए। आयोजनाले पर्यटनलाई असर पार्ने कुरा उठिरहेका बेला उनले इको हाइड्रो-टुरिजमको अवधारणा अनुसार चीनमा जस्तै हाइड्रोपावर हेर्ने पर्यटक भित्र्याउन सकिने र र्‍याफ्टिङका लागि आयोजना भन्दा दक्षिणको क्षेत्रमा नयाँ संरचना थपिने बताए।

Nepal pipes biogas expertise abroad

Navin Singh KhadkaEnvironment reporter, BBC News, Nepal

Having emerged as one of the pioneers in producing biogas from cow dung, the Himalayan nation of Nepal is now successfully transferring its technical expertise to other countries.

Photo: bbc.co.uk

Several Nepalese experts have been travelling to countries in South East Asia and Africa to introduce the "clean", homegrown technology that helps reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuels and saves forests.Biogas from cow dung is mainly used for cooking in rural areas and also for lighting houses.

Renowned for displacing choking smoky ovens with clean cooking stoves, the Nepalese model of biogas has won the prestigious Ashden award.

The Biogas Partnership Project Nepal, a collaboration between the government, donors and non-governmental organisations, has already installed plants for nearly 300,000 households across the country.

The project says it helps reduce 7.4 tonnes of greenhouse gases per household per year and protects 250,000 trees during the same period of time.

And the expertise gained over the years has benefited many communities in different developing and least developed countries including Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, among others in Asia and around 10 countries in Africa.

First camera-trap image of Nepal’s Snow Leopard released

Kathmandu, Nepal

The first picture of a snow leopard taken by a camera trap on 24 October 2011 in Khambachen valley of Kangchenjunga was released today by WWF-Nepal. 

Photo: WWF Nepal

Ten camera traps (Moultrie D- 40) were installed in the valleys of Nagphinda, Khambachen, Lohanak and Jimbubari in Kangchenjunga Conservation Area in October 2011 under a pioneering initiative to monitor snow leopards in Nepal’s Himalayas. The monitoring is being led by local communities through the Kangchenjunga Conservation Area Management Council and the Snow Leopard Conservation Committee-Ghunsa. It is expected that the camera traps will guide the estimation of snow leopard populations in the future. 

NEA MD out of touch‚ rumours rife he's quit

Ramesh Prasad Bhusal 

Kathmandu, Nepal

Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority Dipendra Nath Sharma has gone incommunicado , giving rise to speculations that he has resigned following intense pressure from NEA trade unions over 'various issues'. 

If the rumours doing rounds about Sharma's resignation are true, it will not only reflect the state of the state-owned power utility but also will prove his appointment was much ado about nothing, for Sharma is the first MD in the history of NEA who was selected through open competition, in a move what then energy minister Gokarna Bista had termed 'an effort to revamp' the organisation.

It is said that Sharma left his office yesterday, saying 'I won't return again'. A source at the Ministry of Energy said Sharma has already tendered his resignation to Energy Secretary Balananda Paudel. But Paudel said he was on leave. "He has submitted a leave application but has not specified till when," he said.

Chilime Hydropower Company Limited

Chilime Hydropower Company Limited (CHPCL), a subsidiary company of NEA with 51% equity ownership was established in 1996 with an objective of promoting the utilization of resources within the country for development of hydropower. As a first step towards its objective Chilime Hydropower plant (CHPP) located in Rasuwa district with installed capacity 22.1MW was built and commissioned on August 25,2003. The plant is now in the seventh year of commercial operation.

CHPCL is equally devoted towards fulfilling the social obligations part of Corporate Social Responsibility. The company provides Rs 2.5 million annually to the affected VDCs of Rasuwa district through SarokarSamiti for development in the sectors like education, health , drinking water, irrigation and electrification. The support is not only limited through SarokarSamiti as the company has also been involved in the development activities of the affected and other remote VDCs of Rasuwa district independently.

संरक्षणविद् प्रल्हाद योन्जनको निधन

काठमाडौं, नेपाल

संरक्षणविद् प्रल्हाद योञ्जन २५ वर्षअघि अमेरिकामा पढेर फर्केयता सकेसम्म साइकलमै काठमाडौंभित्र यात्रा गर्थे। वातावरणप्रतिको चिन्ताले निसास्सिँदो सडकमा साइकल हाँक्दाहाँक्दै ट्रकको ठक्करबाट सोमबार उनको निधन भयो।

कलंकीबाट बल्खु जाँदै गर्दा अपराह्न उनी चढेको साइकललाई ट्रकले ठक्कर दिएपछि उनी सख्त घाइते भएका थिए। प्रत्यक्षदर्शी विवेक शर्माले चार बज्न दस मिनेटअघि अस्वभाविक गतिमा आएको ट्रकको पछाडि मान्छे लडेको देखेपछि उद्धार गर्दै त्रिपुरेश्वरस्थित काठमाडौं अस्पताल पुर्‍याएका थिए। अस्पतालले साढे पाँच बजेतिर अग्रणी संरक्षणविद्को दुःखद् निधनको घोषणा गर्‍यो। 

ट्रक चालकले साइकल आफ्नो चक्कामा आएर ठोक्किएको दाबी प्रहरीसँग गरेका छन्। प्रत्यक्षदर्शी शर्माका अनुसार योञ्जनको देब्रे खुट्टा किचिएको थियो र सास चलिरहेको थियो। उनले प्रहरीलाई घटनाबारे सूचित गरी आफ्नै गाडीमा राखेर योञ्जनलाई अस्पताल पुर्‍याए। घाइतेको डायरीबाट नम्बर हेर्दै आफन्तलाई खबर गरे। चिकित्सकबाट पाँच मिनेटमात्र छिटो उपचार सुरू गर्न पाएको भए जीवन रहने सम्भावना रहेको भन्ने सुने। 

Kapilvastu municipality covered in garbage‚ sewerage

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

Taulihawa, Kapilvastu 

Lack of waste and sewage management and clean-up programmes are taking their toll on Kapilvastu municipality. Non-management of waste and lack of sanitation have turned the four-decade-old municipality into a stinking city. Pedestrians have to cover their nose while walking on the streets of Kaiplvastu’s headquarters Taulihawa. 

Locals complain they have to bear intolerable stench at Chowkbazaar, Maltol, Kahartol, Sivamandirtol, etc. The Department of Road did not carry out clean up campaign on the road from Vikshu to Nayatol. Sewage abounds along with plastic, paper and sand. Consequently, streets are waterlogged. Gaudichowk, Nayachowk and Dhobitol have come under sewage causing inconvenience for pedestrians and motorists. 

Thoroughfares in and around Taulihawa are in bad shape as potholes abound. Gopal Gupta, a teacher, complained that locals were hit hard due to piles of garbage and sewage water. Another local Rajendra Shrerstha, venting ire on municipal authority, said the problem had arisen due to the authority’s apathy to the need to take action against the encroachers. “The municipality was supposed to punish those who leave pets on the street and carry out the clean up campaign,” Shrestha demanded. 

Happy Dipawali And Chhat 2068

Dear all Visitors, Wish U and your family a very happy Dipawali n Chhat 2068. May God fulfill all your wishes in wealth, health & happiness in your life.

evishesh.blogspot.com

Awarding Conservation Excellence in Nepal

Kathmandu, Nepal 

Nine individuals and organizations were felicitated with WWF Conservation Awards amidst a small function today. WWF Nepal offered Conservation Awards to organizations and individuals to honor their outstanding feats in the field of conservation, natural resource management, climate change, sustainable livelihoods, journalism, and other related fields.

The award categories and the respective awardees included:

 Abraham Conservation Awards: Individual

• Mr. Rajendra Singh Bhandari from Baitadi, for his pivotal role in combatting organized wildlife crimes in Nepal through Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB). Under his leadership CIB was able to arrest more than 35 criminals and confiscate wildlife trophy worth NRs.10 million.
• Ms. Kalawati Chaudhary from Kailali, for her contribution towards bird and biodiversity conservation through active mobilization of local communities
• Mr. Bed Bahadur Khadka from Chitwan, for his arduous efforts in Gharial  Conservation

ENERGY BALANCE FOR SMALL WIND GENERATORS

HAMK University of Applied Sciences
Name of degree programme: Mechanical Engineering and Production Technology
Place: Kaartokatu 2, 11100 Riihimäki, Finland

Subject of Bachelor’s thesis: Energy balance for small wind generators
Commissioned by: Finnwind Oy

Supervised by: Tomi Sankari

Author: Vishesh Lohani
Year: 2011

ABSTRACT

This thesis is commissioned by Finnwind Oy. It is mainly concerned with the energy balance or energy pay-back of different wind generators manufactured by Finnwind Oy.The comparison of energy used by turbines in its life span with the energy produced by a turbine is known as the energy balance. Energy payback time means the length of time that a wind generator will take to produce that same amount of energy that was used to make it. This is used with renewable and non- renewable energy solutions to describe how long it takes for the device to generate the amount of energy that it took to make it in the first place. Tuule series wind turbine comprises of maximum 5. 3 kW turbines on a 18-27 m tower and is assumed to give energy of 12000 kWh annually in the sea shore and 5000 kWh on land.

नेपालीहरुको महान चाड बिजया दशमी २०६८ को पावन अवसरमा यहाँ लगायत यहाँको सम्पुर्ण परिवारहरुको दिर्घायु, सु-स्वस्थ्य एवं सफलताको हार्दीक मँगलमय शुभकामना ब्यक्त गर्दछु !!! 

इविशेष.ब्लगस्पोट.कम परिवार   

Department of Hydrology and Meterology in Nepal

Government of Nepal started hydrological and meteorological activities in an organized way in 1962. The activities were initiated as a section under the Department of Electricity. The section was subsequently transferred to the Department of Irrigation and was ultimately upgraded to Department status in 1988.

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) is an organization under the Ministry of Environment, Government of Nepal. The department with headquarters in Kathmandu has three basin offices: Karnali Basin Office in Surkhet, Narayani Basin Office in Pokhara and Kosi Basin Office in Dharan.
DHM has a mandate from Government of Nepal to monitor all the hydrological and meteorological activities in Nepal. No agency is entitled to carry out such activities without a proper liaison with DHM. The scope of work includes the monitoring of river hydrology, climate, agrometeorology, sediment, air quality, water quality, limnology, snow hydrology, glaciology, and wind and solar energy. General and aviation weather forecasts are the regular services provided by DHM. As a member of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), DHM contributes to the global exchange of meteorological data on a regular basis.

जलविद्युत्मा लगानी गर्न अमेरिकी इच्छुक

वासिङटन डिसी, अमेरिका 

अमेरिकी लगानीकर्ताले भारतको आर्थिक उन्नतिबाट फाइदा लिन सकिने भन्दै नेपालको जलविद्युत् क्षेत्रमा लगानी गर्न रुचि देखाएका छन् । लगानी बढाउने सम्भावना खोज्न यहाँ आएको नेपाली व्यवसायीको प्रतिनिधिमण्डलसँग भएको दुईदिने बैठकमा उनीहरूले यस्तो चाहना राखेका हुन् ।

भारतमा बढिरहेको अमेरिकी लगानीको प्रतिफल दिगो बनाउन पनि नेपालमा जलविद्युत् विकास आवश्यक रहेकामा उनीहरू सहमत देखिन्थे । 'भारतमा अमेरिकीहरूको ठूलो लगानी छ, यो बढिरहेको छ, ऊर्जा अभाव झेलिरहेको भारतीय बजार लक्षित गरेर अमेरिकीहरू नेपालमा लगानी गर्न तयार छन्,' नेपाली प्रतिनिधि मण्डलका नेता एवं उद्योग वाणिज्य महासंघ लगानी प्रवर्द्धन समितिका संयोजक चन्द्र ढकालले भने ।

नेपालमै पनि ऊर्जा अभाव भएकाले बजारको समस्या छैन । भारतमा बिजुली बेच्न हालै विश्व बैंकको सहयोगमा प्र्रसारण लाइन निर्माण गरिने सम्झौता भएबाट निकासीको ढोका खुल्ने छ ।

हालै मात्र २५ मेगावाटभन्दा तलका आयोजनाबाट उत्पादित बिजुलीको खरिददर २० प्रतिशत बढाउने निर्णय सरकारले गरेको छ । 'यो पनि  लगानीकर्ताका लागि थप आकर्षण भएको छ,' ढकालले भने । निर्माणाधीन नयाँ जलविद्युत् ऐन अझै लगानीमैत्री भएर आउने विश्वास गरिएको छ । 

NEA new power tariff panel soon

Kathmandu,Nepal

The Energy Ministry is set to form a new commission to fix electricity tariff, officials said. The new commission will replace a similar body formed in 1994 under the Electricity Tariff Fixation Rules. “The new committee will be formed within a month,” said a source.

The existing panel, which last recommended a 100 per cent hike in 2001, had a tiff with then Energy Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, a member of the Madhav Kumar Nepal Cabinet, after it stood against a tariff hike that the minister had proposed. Restructuring of Nepal Electricity Authority is the precondition to any hike, the seven-member panel under former water resources secretary Mahendra Nath Aryal had said.

The government’s intentions to do away with the old commission became evident as the Jhala Nath Khanal government presented a special document at the Parliament on March 23, which declared a power crisis in the country and pledged to dissolve the tariff commission.

The culture of agriculture

SURYA ADHIKARI

No one inspired me, I inspired myself. I taught myself about soil nutrients. My neighbours thought I was mad because I used to go into town to collect the hair from barbershops and bones from slaughter houses, grind and spread them out as fertiliser. I learnt as I went along.

Once, in Gulmi I saw they were growing coffee. I brought back 12 bushes and today Begnas Coffee is famous, we produce 22 tons of beans a year. But it wasn't easy, during the 1990 democracy movement, the highways was closed for more than a week and all my chicken died on the way to market. I lost Rs 100,000 and went bankrupt. But out of adversity comes opportunity. I met the specialists from LI-BIRD and they taught me about sustainable agriculture and crop biodiversity.

I have learnt that the most important thing is to follow nature's rules. You can't go wrong if you do that. You have to protect the soil, that is the most important thing. This doesn't just mean stopping erosion, it means not poisoning it with chemicals, it means replenishing the soil's natural nutrients. Increasing food production is not going to be enough, we have to protect our soil and the agriculture biodiversity that god has bestowed on this land. We have to protect the soil, air and water cycle.

25 Years : Journalism for Sustainability

Kathmandu,Nepal

Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, President of Nepal, praised the 25 years of continued efforts of the Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ) on environmental awareness, conservation, and sustainable development during a visit by NEFEJ officials and members on January 7, 2011 at President's Office, Maharajgunj. The purpose of the visit was to inform him about the activities, achievements and plans of NEFEJ.

Laxman Upreti, president led the team of NEFEJ members, environmentalists and conservationists, environmental journalists and editors. Mr. Upreti handed over a memorandum, a video documentary, and NEFEJ publications to President Dr. Yadav. The memorandum drew the attention of Dr. Yadav on issues of environment, conservation, and sustainable development, particularly Siwalik (Churia) conservation. Similarly, the video documentary highlighted the major activities of NEFEJ since its inception. The publications included books and other materials published by NEFEJ.

Mr. Upreti also briefed Dr. Yadav about the efforts of NEFEJ in Siwalik Conservation and in drawing the attention of people in the conservation efforts, and its role in raising awareness for its conservation. NEFEJ had carried out the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) project to develop strengthened institutional capacity of local environment based NGOs, and had supported conservation efforts of Churia based NGOs.

Electric future

Gagan Thapa

Kathmandu,Nepal 

Anyone who looks at the figures should be worried. Nepal produces only 600MW of power and demand is 800MW. Since most projects are non-storage type, generation capacity depends on the flow of the rivers. Even in the monsoon, the rivers generate only 692 MW, and with energy demand rising at 80 MW a year, power rationing is here to stay for at least three more years. In fact, there may only be power for three hours a day in coming winters. Load-shedding is no just a nuisance to consumers, the fall in productivity and increase in diesel imports is ruining the economy. 

The government has declared an energy emergency up to December 2015 during which period it hopes to fast track projects to generate 2,500 MW of additional power, including from reservoir projects. Parliament's Committee on Natural Resources, of which I am a member, has just completed a detailed study and has made some recommendations in a preliminary report.

At present, hydropower development is stymied by inadequate incentives for domestic and foreign investors, poor governance at the regulating agencies and line ministry. Politicisation of the NEA has now reached unprecedented levels: there are 13 unions affiliated to various parties in the NEA. Even if there is enough generation capacity, there isn't the transmission capacity to take the power to consumers. NEA's monopoly in generation, transmission and distribution has hindered competition and hampered efficiency. Some projects are being delayed because their environmental impact assessment isn't complete.

Energy minister Bista cuts off power supply to errant govt offices

Kathmandu,Nepal

The Nepal Electricity Authority on Wednesday started cutting off the electricity supply to the government offices that did not pay the huge bills due for a long.Energy Minister Gokarna Bista himself came to the fore and started the ‘pressure campaign’ by switching off the power supply to the Department of Roads at Babarmahal and the Singha Durbar Secretariat Reconstruction Committee (SDSR).

Energy Secretary Balananda Paudel and newly appointed Managing Director of the NEA Dipendra Sharma had accompanied the minister. The Energy Ministry had issued a public notice in July, asking the ministries to clear the bills. Many defaulters had cleared the dues and about 70 per cent of the pending payment was made by the 15-day deadline that expired yesterday.

The DoR owes Rs 760‚000 while the SDSR has dues of Rs 358‚000 to the NEA.According to the NEA, the Home Ministry, with dues amounting to Rs 17.5 crores, is the biggest defaulter among the ministries. Not lagging far behind are the Health and Peace and Reconstruction Ministries with dues amounting to Rs 15.2 crores and Rs 13.6 crores, respectively. 

Government of Nepal boosts its support for tiger conservation

Kathmandu, Nepal  

The Government of Nepal has decided to provide an additional ten million rupees for tiger conservation in Nepal. The decision was taken at a meeting called today by Rt. Honorable Jhalanath Khanal, Prime Minister of Nepal, with the government agencies and conservation organisations, including WWF Nepal, working on tiger conservation to mark Global Tiger Day. At the meeting, the Prime Minister of Nepal was also briefed on the current status of tigers in the wild.

The National Tiger Conservation Committee (NTCC) meeting was called for the first time since the Prime Minister took up office; the NTCC was originally established under the chairmanship of ex-Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to combat tiger poaching and illegal trade at the national level.

Important decisions taken at the meeting included formulation of the new work plan of NTCC and strengthening strategies to curb illegal wildlife trade, use of scientific tools to aid tiger conservation, undertaking periodic review and update of the National Tiger Recovery Program, and establishment of a Tiger Conservation Cell within Nepal Police. The meeting also decided to expand the organizational structure of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.