जलस्रोतमा जाली खेल

पश्चिमसेतीमा राष्ट्रवाद र अब डिजेल बिजुली -३ र १० भदौ) का लेखमा विद्युत्बारे धेरै चर्चा गरिएको छ । स्तम्भकार विकास थापाले भदौ ३ मा लेखेका छन्- 'पश्चिम सेतीमा हाम्रा बुद्धिजीवीले अहिले उठाएको मुद्दा हो देश डुबाएर भारतलाई बिजुली निर्यात गर्ने, अनि त्यो पानीले भारतीय भूभाग सिञ्चित हुने ।'
उनीहरू पश्चिम सेतीको बिजुली भारत निकास हुँदा त्यसबाट राज्यले प्राप्त गर्ने आर्थिक लाभ र विस्थापितलाई पुनस्र्थापनका लागि अघि सारिएका योजनाको चर्चा गर्दैनन् । अनि तर्क दिन्छन्, जलाशयमा जमेको पानी भारतमा सिंचाइका लागि निकास हुन्छ, जबकि नेपाली भूभागमा बाँध बनेर विद्युत्गृहबाट निक्लेको पानी नेपालकै नदीमा मिसिन्छ भन्ने सामान्य प्राविधिक पक्षलाई समेत तोडमतोड गरी उत्तर प्रदेशको घाँघरा नदीमा बनेको गिर्जापुर ब्यारेजबाट सित्तैमा उपयोग गर्छ भन्छन् । यसरी किन झूट बोलिन्छ ?
तर ०५४ साउन १० को सम्पादकीयमा लेखिएको छ- पश्चिम सेती जुन स्वरूपमा निर्माण हुनेछ त्यसअनुसार हिउँदमा ९० क्यूसेक पानीको नियन्त्रित बहाव सेतीबाट कणर्ाली हुँदै भारतको गिर्जापुर बराजमा पुग्छ । जसबाट भारतको थप डेढ लाख हेक्टर भूमिमा अतिरिक्त सिंचाइ सुविधा हुन्छ । तर सरकारले गरेको पश्चिम सेती सम्झौतामा भारतले प्राप्त गर्ने यो सुविधाको कुनै मूल्याङ्कन गरिएको छैन । यसरी राष्ट्रियहितको पूर्णरूपमा बेवास्ता गरेकोमा सरकारको नियतमाथि स्वतः प्रश्न उठ्न पुग्छ । राष्ट्रिय फाइदाका विषयमा गम्भीर नहुने सरकारमाथि कसरी विश्वास गर्ने ?
नेपालमुखी, जनमुखी विकासे नीति र योजनालाई प्राथमिकता दिनुको सट्टा नेपालको जलस्रोतको विकास राष्ट्रहितमा हुनुपर्छ भन्नेलाई खोक्रो राष्ट्रवाद, विकास विरोधी, जलमाफिया, पेट्रोमाफिया तथा थर्मलप्लान्टका एजेन्टका नाममा हिलो छ्याप्नु हुँदैन ।
पश्चिम सेतीलगायत देशमा उत्पादन हुने बिजुली भारत नबेची देशभित्रै खपत गरी खाडी राष्ट्रबाट आयातीत तेलको विकल्पका रूपमा प्रयोग गरिनुपर्छ । विकासे आयोजनाका नाममा खालि विदेशीमात्र पोस्ने काम नगरौँ । कुनै पनि आयोजनासम्बन्धी गलत एवं नीतिगत/प्रक्रियागत त्रुटि कमजोरीप्रति असहमति जनाउने र राष्ट्रहितमा विकासे आयोजना बन्नुपर्छ भन्नेसँग एकतर्फी प्रदूषित विचार होइन स्वच्छ संवादका लागि नैतिक साहस प्रदर्शन गरौँ ।

पाठक मञ्च
- रतन भण्डारी
बझाङ, रायल- २, चौडाम
हालः डिल्लीबजार

माओवादीद्वारा ठूला जलविद्युत आयोजनाको विरोध

नविनसिँह खड्का
बीबीसी नेपाली सेवा, लण्डन

जलस्रोत मन्त्रालयले अगाडि बढाउन खोजेको ठूला जलविद्युत आयोजनाहरुको गठवन्धन सरकारकै एउटा प्रमुख घटक नेकपा माओवादीका सांसद तथा नेताहरूले तीव्र विरोध गरेका छन्।
संक्रमणकालमा ठूल्ठूला आयोजनाहरूबारे निर्णय लिन नहुने माओवादी अडानका कारण भारतीय लगायतका विदेशी कम्पनीहरुलाई निर्माण गर्न दिने भनिएका ती आयोजनाहरूको भविष्यबारे अनिश्चितता छाएको छ।
यद्यपि सत्तारूढ अन्य प्रमुख घटकहरू केही हदसम्म विवादास्पद बनेका ती जलविद्युत आयोजनाहरू सरकारले अगाडि बढाउनु पर्ने पक्षमा देखिएका छन्।
विकासे राजनीति
संविधानसभाको चुनावजस्तो मूलधारको राजनीतिक एजेन्डाका कारण होला ठूला जलविद्युत आयोजनाहरु पनि समेट्ने विकासे राजनीतिबारे माओवादी तथा अन्य प्रमुख सत्तारुढ घटकहरुबीचको मतभेद बाहिरआईसकेको छैन।
तर अन्तरिम संसदको प्राकृतिक स्रोतसाधन समितिभित्र भने त्यही विकासे राजनीतिले नै ती दुईपक्षलाई एक अर्काको विरुद्ध उभ्याईदिएको कुराको पुष्टि माओवादी सांसद लोकेन्द्र विष्टले गरे।
माओवादी सांसद विष्ट पनि सहभागी हुने गरेका प्राकृतिक स्रोत साधन समितिको बैठकमा आजभोलि सरकारले विदेशी कम्पनीहरु मार्फत अगाडि बढाउन खोनिएको चारवटा ठूल्ठूला जलविद्युत आयोजनाहरु पश्चिम सेती, माथिल्लो कर्णाली, अरुण तेस्रो र बुढी गण्डकीबारे गर्मागर्मी बहस हुने गरेको छ।
यी चारै आयोजनाहरूले उत्पादन गर्ने विजुली २,००० मेगावाट भन्दा बढी हुनेछ।
त्यो संख्या हाल देशका सबै विद्युत उत्पादन केन्द्रहरूको जडित क्षमताको तीन गुणाभन्दा पनि बढी हुनेछ।
ती मध्ये जलाशययुक्त पश्चिम सेतीको निर्माणकालागि एउटा अष्ट्रेलियन कम्पनीलाई अनुमति दिने भनी क्याबिनेटले निर्णय गरिसकेको छ।
तर त्यसबाट नेपालले पहिले भनिए झैं सित्तैमा केही विद्युत नपाउने हो भने सो आयोजनाबाट नेपालीलाई कुनै फाइदा नहुने कुरा संसदको प्राकृतिक स्रोतसाधन समितिमा उठेको थियो।
अन्य तीन आयोजनाहरू, माथिल्लो कर्णाली, अरूण तेस्रो र बुढी गण्डकीकालागि विदेशी कम्पनीहरूको छनौट प्रक्रिया पनि उक्त संसदीय समितिमा विवादस्पद बन्न पुगेको छ।
'गलत समय'
त्यस्ता विवाद र छलफल जारी नै रहँदा माओवादी सांसदहरुले यो ठूला आयोजनाहरु अगाडि बढाउने बेला नभएको भनी आवाज उठाइरहेका छन्।
समितिको बैठकमा भाग लिएका माओवादी सांसद दिनानाथ शर्माले भने, "यो सरकार संविधानसभा सम्पन्न गर्नको लागि हो।
"त्यसकारणले मेगा प्रोजेक्टहरु र ठूला प्रोजेक्टहरुको अहिले निर्माण नगरोस् र यस्तो किसिमको निर्णय भएर नआओस् भन्ने हाम्रो भनाई हो ।''
माओवादी संसदीय दलको मुख्य सचेतकको हैसियतले शर्माले संसदीय प्राकृतिक स्रोतसाधन समितिको जुन बैठकमा भाग लिएका थिए, त्यही बैठकमा भागलिएका सत्तारुढ अर्को प्रमुख घटक नेपाली कांग्रेसका प्रमुख सचेतक आनन्द ढुंगानाले भने सरकारले अगाडि बढाउन खोजेको ठूला जलविद्युत आयोजनाहरुलाई रोक्न नहुने बताएका थिए।
उनले भने, "जो सहमति भएको छ त्यसको कार्यान्वयन होस, पारदर्शिता अपनाइयोस, जसले गर्दाखेरि पार्टीहरूभित्र राष्ट्रिय सहमति बनोस् र भोलि देश प्रगतिको बाटोमा जाओस् भनी हामीले भनेका हौं।
"क्याविनेटले गरेको कुरामा तपाईहरुले यो निर्णय गर्नै पाउनु हुन्न भन्ने हाम्रो भनाइ होईन। "
गैह्र माओवादी सां‌सदहरुले त्यस्तो भनाइ र माओवादी सांसदहरुको ठीक उल्टो भनाइ नै अहिलेको मूल मुद्दा भएको जानकारी प्राकृतिक स्रोत साधन समितिका एकजना सदस्य तथा नेकपा एमालेका सांसद प्रकाश ज्वालाले दिए।
विरोधको कारण
माओवादी सांसद विष्टले भने "भारतलाई सस्तोमा बिजुली बेची उताबाट चाँहि महंगोमा खरीद गर्ने र नेपालका गाँउहरु अन्धकार हुने। नेपालका नदीनाला सबै भारततिर जाने, नेपालमा न त सिंचाइ हुने न पिउने पानी न विजुली हुने यस्तो अवस्था छ।"
तर नेपाललाई फाईदै फाईदा हुने अवस्था रहेको बताउँदै जलस्रोत राज्यमन्त्री ज्ञानेन्द्र वहादुर कार्कीले भने, "जुन दिनदेखि काम प्रारम्भ हुन्छ त्यस दिन देखि धेरै नेपालीहरुले रोजगारी पाउन सक्छन्। जुन दिन आयोजना सम्पन्न भैसक्छ त्यसपछि सरकारले रोयल्टी पाउनेछ।
"त्यसपछि गएर ३० वर्षपछि एक अरब २० करोड डलरको यो आयोजना नेपालको आफ्नै हुन्छ।"
तर ती सबै अहिलेको प्राथमिकता नभएको तर्क गर्दै माओवादी नेता शर्माले भने, "अहिलेको सन्दर्भमा यस प्रकारको चिजहरुले कतै संविधानसभाको निर्वाचनमा प्रभाव नपारोस्, त्यसप्रकारको पश्नहरु नउठोस् र अन्यथा नहोस् भन्ने मात्रै हो।
"यी योजनाहरुलाई अगाडी बढाउने पनि एउटा सन्दर्भ हुन्छ, एउटा निर्णय हुन्छ, एउटा सहमति हुन्छ।"
त्यस्तो सहमती हुन नसक्नुको प्रमुख कारण माओवादी सांसद शर्माको भनाइमा खोज्ने हो भने संविधानसभाको चुनाव नै मुख्य रुपमा देखापर्छ।
यदि त्यसो हो भने मूलधारको राजनीतिलाई विकासे राजनीतिले पनि डोर्‍याउन सक्ने यो अर्को ज्वलन्त उदाहरण हुनसक्छ।

प्राधिकरणले फेरि डलरमा बिजुली किन्ने

विकास थापा
काठमाडौं, भदौ ९ - खिम्ती र भोटेकोसीका कारण घाटा खाएको विद्युुत् प्राधिकरणले पुुनः अमेरिकी डलरमा बिजुुली किन्ने भएको छ ।

प्राधिकरण सञ्चालक समितिको आइतबार बसेको बैठकले ५० मेगावाटको माथिल्लो मस्र्याङ्दी जलविद्युुत् आयोजनाकोे सगरमाथा पावर कम्पनीसँग डलरमा बिजुुली किन्ने सम्झौता गर्ने निर्णय गरेको हो ।

स्राेतअनुुसार, चिनियाँ ९० प्रतिशत र बाँकी नेपाली साझेदारको लगानी भएको माथिल्लो मस्र्याङ्दीको बिजुुली प्रतियुुनिट ५ दशमव ६ अमेरिकी सेन्ट -हालको मूल्यमा ३ रुपैयाँ ६० पैसा) का लागि कम्पनीसँग भएको समझदारी पत्र -एमओयू) सञ्चालक समितिले अनुुमोदन गरेको हो ।

१० देखि १५ वर्षसम्म ७० प्रतिशत रकम अमेरिकी डलरमा र बाँकी रकम नेपाली रुपैयाँमा भुुक्तानी हुुने गरी सम्झौता गर्न सञ्चालक समितिले प्राधिकरणलाई अनुुमति दिएको स्राेतले बतायो । तीस वर्षसम्म हुुने सम्झौताका लागि १५ वर्षपछि सक्दो नेपाली रुपैयाँमा भुुक्तानी हुुने गरी पीपीए गर्न मार्ग प्रशस्त गरेको हो ।

सम्झौता अवधिमा पहिलो १५ वर्षसम्म वाषिर्क ३ प्रतिशतका दरले मूल्यवृद्धि हुुने प्रावधान छ । प्राधिकरणले डलरमा लगानी भएकाले डलरमै पीपीए गर्नुुपरेको तर्क दिएको छ । 'यसो नगरे जलविद्युुत्मा वैदेशिक लगानी आउँदैन,' प्राधिकरणका एक अधिकारीले कान्तिपुुरसँग भने ।
माथिल्लो मस्र्याङ्दीमा चीनको सिनो हाइड्रो र प्राधिकरणका पूर्वकार्यकारी निर्देशक हर्षमान श्रेष्ठ तथा मनकामना केवल कारका सञ्चालक लक्ष्मणबाबुु श्रेष्ठको लगानी छ । आइतबारको बैठकले प्राधिकरणलाई उक्त कम्पनीसँग थप वार्ता गरी विदेशी विनिमय जोखिम सक्दो कम गर्न निर्देशन दिएको पनि स्राेतले बतायो ।

प्राधिकरण र उक्त कम्पनीबीच यसअघि भएको एमओयूलाई अनुुमोदन गर्न सञ्चालक समितिको बैठक बसेको हो । उक्त एमओयूअनुुसार डलरमा बिजुुली किन्ने निर्णयले थप आर्थिक संकटमा पार्ने कारण देखाउँदै प्राधिकरणमा विवाद चलेपछि सञ्चालक समिति सदस्यद्वय लेखमान सिंह भण्डारी र गुुरुप्रसाद न्यौपाने सदस्य रहेको उपसमिति गठन भएको थियो ।

उपसमितिले विभिन्न आधारमा 'डलरमा बिजुुली किने हुुन्छ' भन्ने प्रतिवेदन सञ्चालक समितिसमक्ष दिएपछि निर्णय भएको स्राेतले बतायो । उपसमितिले माथिल्लो मस्र्याङ्दीमा स्थानीय लगानीलाई बढावा दिने र त्यसअनुुसार पीपीए गर्न सुुझाव दिएको छ । 'स्थानीय लगानी -नेपाली रुपैयाँ) बढ्यो भने त्यसअनुुसार नै पीपीए गर्न सिफारिस छ,' स्राेतले भन्यो ।

प्राधिकरणले यसअघि अमेरिकी डलरमा बिजुुली खरिद सम्झौता नगर्ने बताउँदै आएको थियो । खिम्ती र भोटेकोसीका कारण प्राधिकरण घाटामा गएको निक्र्याैल निकाल्दै प्राधिकरणले यस्तो धारणा सार्वजनिक गरेको हो । यसका साथै उसले स्वदेशी अथवा विदेशी निजी क्ष्ाेत्रसँग पीपीए गर्नै परे पनि ५ अमेरिकी सेन्टभन्दा बढीमा नगर्ने बताउँदै आएको थियो ।
प्राधिकरणको कुुल आयको ४३ प्रतिशत निजी क्ष्ाेत्रका विद्युुत् उत्पादकलाई भुुक्तानी गर्नुुपर्छ । उसको क्ुुल आय करिब १५ अर्ब रुपैयाँ छ । खिम्ती र भोटेकोसीका कारण प्राधिकरणको वाषिर्क घाटा एक अर्ब रुपैयाँभन्दा बढी छ ।

प्राधिकरणले हाल १५० मेगावाट बिजुुली निजी क्ष्ाेत्रसँग खरिद गर्दै आएको छ ।
खिम्ती र भोटेकोसीजस्तै 'उपयोग गर वा तिर' -टेक अर पे) मा सम्झौता हुने भएकाले आपmनो खेर फालेर अरूको किन्नुपर्ने स्थिति माथिल्लो मस्र्याङ्दीमा पनि हुने प्राधिकरणका प्राविधिकहरू बताउँछन् । प्रस्तावित आयोजनास्थलदेखि हालको तल्लो मस्र्याङ्दी -६९ मेगावाट) सम्म पूर्ण क्षमताको प्रसारण लाइन नभएकाले यस्तो अवस्था आएको हो ।
Posted on: 2007-08-26 19:56:07

Massive hike in hydro license fee this week

BY BIKASH SANGRAULA
KATHMANDU, Aug 26 - The cabinet will effect massive increments in survey license fees as well as annual survey license renewal fees for hydropower projects by amending the fee appendix of the Electricity Regulation 1993 this week, according to sources at Ministry of Water Resources.

The survey license fee is being increased from the existing range of Rs 125 to Rs 750, to the range of Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 million, according to ministry sources.

The amendment, expected in a couple of days, will slap a survey license fee of Rs 50,000 for projects ranging from 1 megawatt (MW) to 5 MW, Rs 10,000 per MW for projects ranging from 5 MW to 100 MW, Rs 1 million for projects ranging from 100 MW to 500 MW and Rs 2 million for projects above 500 MW in size.

An equal amount of renewal fee will have to be paid by the licensee every year during renewal of the survey license. If work progress is achieved according to the work schedule committed to at the time of acquiring the license, there can be a maximum of four renewals. There is no provision of renewal after five years as the ministry officials consider this more than enough time to complete a project survey.

The government is making such provisions to ensure that survey license holders achieve work progress according to their commitment.

As of June 15 this year, the government had issued 141 project survey licenses to prospective developers for projects ranging from 1 megawatt (MW) to 400 MWs, according to figures provided by the Department of Electricity Development.

Combined, these projects have a total capacity to generate over 4,000 MWs of electricity.
However, actual survey progress has been seen in very few of these projects.
The existing lax licensing provisions were made at a time when there was little private sector interest in developing hydropower projects in the country.

Today, the interest is immense, to the extent that prospective developers are ready even to bid for projects, as has been the case for the 402 MW Arun III and 300 MW Upper Karnali.
Under the new provisions, the one time generation license fee for projects of the size 1 MW to 5 MW will be Rs 100,000.

Similarly, the fee for projects of size 5 MW to 100 MW will be Rs 500,000, fee for projects of size 100 MW to 500 MW will be Rs 1 million, fee for projects of size 500 MW to 1000 MW will be Rs 2.5 million, while fee for projects above 1,000 MW in size will be Rs 5 million. The previous fee ranged from Rs 3000 to less than a hundred thousand rupees.

Generation license is issued for a one-time period of 35 years for projects planned to sell power in the country, and 30 years for projects planned for export.
Posted on: 2007-08-26 21:13:47 (Server Time)

बराहले पछार्‍यो भारतलाई !!!!

(गत बर्ष रोबोकन २००६को फाइनलमा थाईल्याण्डलाई हराउदै भियतनाम तस्बिरमा )

आज भियतनाममा सम्पन्न अन्तराष्ट्रिय रोबोट प्रतियोगिताको प्रारम्भिक चरणको लीग खेलमा नेपाली रोबोट 'बराह'ले भारतको आई आई टी, नया दिल्लीलाई ५-३ को अन्तरले हराएको छ । समुहबाट नेपाल र भारतलाई पराजित गर्दै ईजिप्ट नकआउट चरणमा प्रवेश गरेको थियो ।

यस बर्षको रोबोकन् को उपाधी भने चिनले जितेको खबर प्राप्त भएको छ । आगामी बर्ष भारतले आयोजना गर्ने कुरा भएपनि पुष्टि हुनसकेको छैन ।

नेपालको प्रतिनिधित्व त्रिभुवन विश्वबिध्यालय, ईन्जिनियरिङ अध्ययन सँस्थान,पुल्चोक क्याम्पसमा रहेको रोबोटिक्स क्लबले गरेको छ । हाल सम्म लगभग १० अन्तराष्ट्रिय रोबोट प्रतियोगितामा क्लबले भाग लीइसकेको छ । रमेश चौधरी प्रशिक्षक रहेको यस टोलीमा बिशेस खनाल, राजकुमार चौलागाई र सलिम बक्स छन् ।

आज भिडदै छ 'बराह' ।

नेपाली रोबोट 'बराह्'ले आज भियतनामको हनोईमा १८ देशका १९ टिमसँग दर्‍हो प्रतिष्पर्धा गर्ने रोबोटिक्स क्लबले जनाएको छ ।जापान, चिन, कोरीया जस्ता बिकसित् देशको रोबोटसँग नेपालले कडा चुनौतिको सामना गर्नुपर्ने यो खेलमा समुह छनौटको बिवरण भने प्राप्त भएको छैन ।

BARAHA IN ABU ROBOCON 2007, VIETNAM

There are three automatic machines, the basic features of each of these robots are briefly explained below.

First Automatic Machine (Largest automatic):
Sensors used:
LDR sensors: These are Light Dependent Resistors which changes its resistance as the intensity of light incident on it is varied. We have used LDR’s for tracking the white guide lines of the gamefield as these sensors give different response for white lines from the remaining part of the game field. Since these sensors are completely dependent of light intensity, it should be properly shielded from ambient light.
ii) IR sensor: The infra red sensor is used to detect the object. The machine gets to know from what height to release the pearl on island with the help of this sensor which sends signal to the controller when object is detected in front of it.
Limit Switches: Simple limit switches are used to know the physical positional limit of different parts. For example the slider has the lower and upper limit and motor must be stopped when slider reaches this limit. The limit switches cuts the electric signal when it is pressed physically.
Motor Driver:
The motors are driven with the H-bridge made up of n-channel mosfet. We designed the H-bridge circuit but it took much time to refine it and make it reliable with lots of protection added to the simple H-bridge circuit. It was a great to see the stepwise improvement of the circuit as we experimented and analyzed it for almost a week. We were exhilarated when it finally worked very well.
Mechanical features:
The machine consists of a slider that allows the vertical movement of the grip so that the machine can pick the pearl from the floor and then put it on the island. The sliding mechanism uses rack and pinion arrangement. The grip uses pulley to grip and release the pearl. Similarly, there is stack rod on the machine that is used to stack the picked pearl. Stack can rotate in horizontal plane with a range of about 120 degree.

SECOND AUTOMATIC MACHINE(medium sized robot):
Sensors used:
As the first robot it uses ldr to track the lines.
Optical encoder: The optical encoders are attached to the small disc and the disc will rotate as the machine moves. The optical encoder gives pulses at the rate proportional to the speed of the machine. In this way feedback is taken from the encoder and is used to determine the position of the robot, The same feedback approach is taken along with our control algorithm to make robot move in a straight path when required.
IR sensors and limit switches: Same use as that in first automatic machine.
Motor Driver:
As with previous machine, our custom made H-bridge driver is used. Since the feedback system is used for speed control the bridge circuit is enhanced with PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) input, so the speed of motor is proportional to the duty cycle of pwm input.
Mechanical feature:
It is pretty similar to the first automatic machine. The stack rod is not present in this machine. Apart from that all other mechanism are same.

THIRD AUTOMATIC MACHINE(small sized robot)
This is a very simple machine with very limited task of defense. We had thought of enhancing its feature to use it in offence to. However the time limitation prevented us from modifying it. .

MANUAL MACHINE:
The manual machine consists of simple electronics. It simply consists of driver circuit with relays and limit switches. It has relatively complex mechanisms compared to automatic machines.
The sliding mechanism is similar as that of automatic machines. Further it contains slider that can slide horizontally. The gripping mechanism is bit different from that of automatic machines to allow greater tolerance in gripping the pearl. It has two grips that are controlled individually. We had suspension system to absorb the shock. However the inherent complexity of this system in controlling the machine and very limited time to modify it compelled us to remove the system.

नेपाली रोबोट टोली बिहिबार भियतनाम् जाने।

आगामी भदौ ९ गते आईतबार नेपालले सातौ अन्तराष्ट्रिय ए बि यु बिश्वबिध्यालय स्तरिय रोबोट प्रतियोगितामा सहभागी हुन प्रतियोगी भोली भियतनाम प्रस्थान गर्दैछन् ।रोबोटिक्स क्लब, पुल्चोक क्याम्पसले यस बर्ष 'बराह्' नामको रोबोट उतार्दै छ । जापान्, कोरीया,चिन जस्ता बिकसित देश लगायत एसिया प्रशान्त क्षेत्रका १९ देशका २० प्रतियोगि उक्त प्रतियोगितामा हुनेछन् ।

रमेश चौधरी प्रशिक्षक सहित बिशेष खनाल, राजकुमार चौलागाई र सलिम बक्सले नेपालको प्रतिनिधित्व गर्नेछन् । नेपालको रोबोट निर्माण गर्दाको अनुभव टोली प्रमुख बिशेषको शब्दमा, ए बि यु को वेबसाइटमा २१ जून २००७ माँ प्रकाशित .......

Presently, 3 students and an instructor who is a Robocon expert are working on the Robocon project at Tribhuvan University. We are almost done with the first automatic robot and the second automatic robot is almost finished as well. The third robot is on the designing process and it takes some more time to complete. The design of manual robot has been completed is being fabricated right this moment.

ABU Robocon is one of the most prestigious competitions for us. It is a matter of great pride to represent our country in an international event in which such a large number of students from the Asia-Pacific participate. This is my first experience in designing and building robots but it gives me a great pleasure when problems are solved after days of hard work. Robocon has taught me 'try and try, never say die' attitude. In four years of studies at university, we students in the engineering field barely get the chance to put our knowledge to use. ABU Robocon provides us with a wonderful opportunity to a hands-on experience.

Robocon is a platform where we can share knowledge and information with students from around the world. We are looking forward to the ABU Robocon 2007 in Hanoi and are working really hard to bring out the best from us.
Best of Luck to all other participating teams!

Debar West Seti

S B Pun's article ? 750 MW West Seti and Far Western region?has rightly proved that the West Seti Hydropower project is not in favor of the nation. The project will incur a loss of Rs 122.3 crores per year to Nepal.

According to the latest (Oct 29, 2006) agreement, Nepal will receive free of charge per annum the amount equivalent to 10 percent of the gross annual revenue received from sale of power and energy generated from the power station and whole electricity will be exported to India. The provisions of these agreements have compromised Nepal's rights to its own resources.
As per the present provisions of the agreement, SMEC and India will get maximum benefit from the project. India will get irrigation and flood control facilities free of cost while WSHL, which is not a Nepali company, will get the entire profit of the project.

On the other hand, the social, environmental and their attendant financial costs will have to be borne by Nepal. More than 15,000 people will be displaced from their homes to ensure power to India. ?

The agreement has been signed without the approval of the parliament. Since this project pertains to the use of the natural resources of Nepal, the agreement should be approved by a two-thirds majority of the joint session of the parliament according to Article 156 of the Interim Constitution of Nepal.

Source:Letter to Editor, The Kathmandu Post Daily ( 2007 August 21)
Ratan Bhandari
Water & Energy Users' Federation-Nepal (WAFED), 60 New Plaza Marga, Putalisadak, Kathmandu

750 Mw West Seti and far western region

By SB Pun

The Far Western Stakeholders' Forum organized an interaction in August 2007 on 750 Mw West Seti hydroelectric storage project and its developmental impact on that region. Two papers on technical and environmental aspects were presented that also touched some commercial issues. Interestingly, a high number of ministers and parliamentarians from that region were present.

However, due to their “prior engagements”, most of them asked to have their “say” earlier. The majority of them extolled the virtues of West Seti to developing the backward far western region. Apparently, they have forgotten Pashupati Shumsher Rana's famous “the sun rising from the west” phenomenon during the ratification of Mahakali Treaty.

Warning that no negative criticisms, Article 156 of Interim Constitution on natural resources or the 90 cumecs augmented flow, would be welcomed, most of them exited from the forum after their say. This prompted the participants from the floor to quip “we are not here to hear their say, we are here so that they may hear what we say”. A genuinely infuriated participant, whose house and lands were to be submerged by West Seti project, showed a letter from the Ministry of Population and Environment that asked him to pay Rs 50,000 for the environmental impact assessment report that he had asked for.

The export-designated 750 Mw West Seti saga started in 1994 when the Australian Snow Mountain Electric Corporation (SMEC) signed a memorandum of understanding with Nepal agreeing to provide 10 percent energy free on top of the prevailing 2 percent royalties.
Informally, SMEC revealed that they were aiming for US Cents 7.50 per unit from India. This peaking power price appeared reasonable as the just concluded 60 Mw run-of-river Khimti power purchase agreement (PPA) had US Cents 5.20 per unit. Thirteen years later in 2007, India “wore” down SMEC to a PPA for US Cents 4.95 per unit for peaking power. As royalty is tied to PPA price, low power price unfortunately means low royalty for Nepal. Besides, Nepal has chipped in US $ 45 million (ADB loan at the medium high LIBOR interest rate) as 15 percent equity stake “to ensure the project moves forward” and the government trumpets that SMEC bowed to its pressure to provide free energy and not cash as agreed earlier.

Apparently, Nepal has done no homework at all in the last thirteen years. The price of oil in 1994 was about US$ 7 per barrel, now it hovers around US$ 70. With the huge energy thirst of China and India, energy experts predict that by 2009 the price of a barrel of oil would shoot to US$ 100.

The run-of-river Khimti's price has now shot up to US Cents 8.40 per unit. No mention is made where SMEC would provide the 10 percent free energy. Is this at the power house site, Kohalpur or Butwal? Providing cash to Nepal was a clever way to wriggle out of constructing costly transmission line in difficult hilly terrain.

Besides, the government made no attempt to review the accruing royalties. The 2058 hydropower policy states that all export oriented storage projects would pay an annual capacity charge of Rs 500 per Kw and an energy royalty of 10 percent for the first 15 years then Rs 2,000 per Kw and 15 percent energy royalty afterwards.

For no reason, the government is content in 2064 with the 2049 policy of Rs 100 per Kw and 2 percent as royalty up to 15 years then Rs 1,000 per Kw and 10 percent as royalty after that.
Based on SMEC's projection that West Seti would generate 3,600 million units annually and based on the 2049 and 2058 policies a tentative per annum revenue and loss to Nepal is given below:

Thus by toeing the old 2049 policy and not the new 2058 policy, Nepal is set to lose over Rs 122 crores per annum. As 50 percnt of the accrued royalty is retained in the region, the Far Western region has much to lose. One can argue that implementation of 2058 policy may jeopardize the project's financial viability. But peaking power at US Cents 4.95 per unit is undoubtedly dirt cheap, besides availing augmented water through default.

Informally, an official justified that the government was merely following the Electricity Act 2049 and that hydropower policy 2058 is yet to be enacted. But when the government goes ahead and amends SMEC's Project Agreement for the eighth time, why was not this better 2058 policy insisted on? Or for that matter, when the government chipped in US$ 45 million why wasn't the application of 2058 policy made a pre-condition? This is something that all Nepalis in particular the Far Western Stakeholders, should ask the government. Better royalty meant Nepalis, whose houses and lands get submerged for perpetuity, will have a better chance of getting “at par or better” living standards wherever they are shifted to!

Royalty 2049 Policy 2058 Policy Loss to Nepal/year
Capacity charge/annum Rs. 7.5 crores Rs. 37.5 crores Rs 30 crores
Energy charge
Upto 15 years 2% 10% 8%
In million units 72 360 288
@ 4.95 US cents per unit US$3.6 million US$17.8 million US$14.2 million
@ NRs 65 per $ Rs 23.4 crores Rs 115.7 crores Rs 92.3 crores
Total Rs 30.9 crores Rs 153.2 crores Rs 122.3 crores

Source : The Kathmandu Post, Posted on: 2007-08-14 21:07:35 (Server Time)
Picture: Writer SB Pun, Former Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority

Khimti power plant in troubled ....

By Rajendra Manandhar ( Ekantipur.com)

DOLAKHA, Aug 18 - The 60 MW Khimti Hydropower project could shut down any time due to a strike staged by the Maoist aligned workers, the plant management warned Saturday.
The country will immediately face at least five hours of extra load-shedding a day if the plant closes down. The approximately USD 140 million plant meets 35 percent of energy need of the capital.

The “run of the river" plant with an annual production of 350 million kilowatt-hours (units) of electrical energy has increased Nepal's installed capacity by approximately 25%.

Commercial Operation of the first private sector power project in Nepal based on a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) structure had begun in July 2000.

Himal Power Limited was established in 1993 when Butwal Power Company (BPC) together with the Norwegian companies Statkraft SF, Alstom Power and GE Energy registered the company under Nepal's Company Act 2021 BS.

पापाराजी होइनन् यि ।

कान्तिपुरका यि फोटोग्राफरको मेहेनेत देख्दाखेरी कान्तिपुरको बिश्वसनियतामा कुनै कमि देखिदैन् । एक् प्रतियोगितको फोटो खिच्नको लागि बसको छतमा चढेका यि पत्रकार कुनै दिन फोटोग्राफरको जमातमा अग्रस्थानमा पुग्ने कुरामा मलाइ भने दुईमत छैन् । अनि उनको नाम , त्यो चाहि अफ द रेकर्ड है। किनभने डायनाको फोटो खिच्न दौडने पापराजी भन्दा यिनमा केहि कमि देखिदैन नि ।