COVID-19 & NEED OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY


Nepal is the second-largest country in water resources after Brazil. It has abundant perennial rivers flowing through the mountains towards low lying plains in the south and continuity onto India which are huge sources of hydropower development. Nepal has an enormous capacity of producing hydropower energy about 80000 MW which promotes Clean Energy. These water resources should be utilized in a proper way to make our country benefitted.

Navodita Chaudhary

Water is the major source of energy for hydropower, it is a clean fuel source. It won’t pollute the air like power plants that burn fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. As Nepal is rich in water resources, hydroelectric is a domestic source of our country to produce its own energy which will help to become independent of energy sources. It will reduce the dependence on international fuel sources. It can meet the peak demand for electricity in our country and it can pair well with other renewables.

There are about 150 countries which are using hydropower energy. China is the largest producer of hydroelectric power about 856.4 billion kilowatt-hours a year. then Brazil is the

By 2030 India has also in its plan and policies to substitute petroleum-dependent transportation into electric transportation by 100% by. In such conditions, Nepal’s energy consumption of petroleum resources will also be affected.

As our Country Nepal is also sufficient in water resources. Then why not go for these alternative energy sources of energy?

There are many mega hydropower projects that /Nepal has already signed in a power trade agreement such as the ‘Arun III’ hydropower project, the ‘Karnali project’, ‘Koshi project’, ‘Pancheshwar project’, ‘Budhi Gandaki project’, and ‘Sikta project’. This will ensure the benefit of royalties, current power shortages, and environmental sustainability.

Besides assigning many hydropower projects, The Government of Nepal has addressed in its budget Article for construction of pipeline & to build the infrastructure of the petroleum pipeline in two places. One is from Amlekhgunj to Lothar of Chitwan and another is from Siliguri of India to Jhapa Charaali.

The development of such infrastructure is not favourable for the environment. It is to withdraw its commitment from the International community on the Environmental protection Act and Climate change policies 2076. The development of such infrastructure is not favorable for Environment and Climate change. That is why the policies and programs should be focussed on the use of renewable sources of energy such as water energy which is clean energy and reduce the use of nonrenewable resources such as petroleum pipelines.

COVID-19 pandemic has already given a clear warning about the catastrophic activities of human behavior such as the maximum exploitation of natural resources, such as fossil fuel.

Nepal has recently ratified the Kyoto Protocol which considers sections of gase that constitute greenhouse gases. Nepal’s GreenHouse Gas(GHG) emission from energy use is insignificant. So it is very important for Nepal to adopt environmental-friendly energy options based on local resources like hydropower. From this Nepal can be benefitted from the provision of a Clean Development Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate change (UNFCC). Funds can be promoted by various organizations in order to obtain funding for new projects that reduce greenhouse gases emission. Funding can be generated through carbon trading in the International market as well. Options for more sustainable and environmentally friendly projects are needed for our country. So laying down such petroleum pipeline is withdrawing itself back from the Kyoto Protocol and its benefit.

The most obvious and visible impact of climate change in the Himalayas is the melting of its Himalayan glaciers, increased size of lakes and outburst floods, which will affect the entire country and entire subcontinent, so Nepal needs to be more alert and strictly follow the environmental laws to save its future. So the best option is to use our domestic resources (hydropower). So laying down such pipelines is to violate environmental rules and regulation and make our country more vulnerable to such adverse impacts.

By 2030 India has also in its plan and policies to substitute petroleum-dependent transportation into electric transportation by 100% by. In such conditions, Nepal’s energy consumption of petroleum resources will also be affected. So Nepal needs to rethink it and focus on its sustainable use of energy.

By assigning various hydropower projects, Nepal is proceeding towards becoming independent on hydro energy. So the problem is going to arise over its export and consumption ways.

Climate change is a global issue now. The whole world is suffering from climate change. And it is caused due to devastating activities of humans such as deforestation, encroachment, maximum exploitation of natural resources such as fossil fuels which are nonrenewable and depleting at an alarming rate.

Covid-19 pandemic has adversely affected all areas, it has a tremendous effect on the environment & clean energy. COVID-19 pandemic has already given a clear warning about the catastrophic activities of human behavior such as the maximum exploitation of natural resources, such as fossil fuel.

Nepal should promote hydroelectric power as the major source of energy to become self-dependent on energy sources. This will help the country to preserve the foreign currency and enhance economic prosperity and reduce environmental pollution and environmental crisis.

Due to such catastrophic activities, such a pandemic is the spillover upon human life. Generation upon generation people has not realized that human life and nature are closely linked to each other.

Humans do not consider the environment as a personal asset that needs to be conserved and preserved to safeguard their own future. If mankind is not going to realize again. Then mankind has to pay for it.

So the high time has come to seek for alternative energy which will secure our future. At this juncture of time where mankind is suffering from climate change and as well as pandemic(Covid-19), mankind has to seek for such energy resources which will enhance the developmental work and protect our environment and our earth globally.

So, no doubt the demand for time is the use of renewable clean energy rather than pollution producing nonrenewable energy. Such renewable energy will help in the development and protect our lives as well.

And Nepal being the second-largest holder of water resources, why the government is roaming here and there. Nepal should endorse the increment of clean renewable energy rather than laying down the infrastructure of the pipeline in its plan and policies.

This will be the wise decision of the government. Nepal should promote hydroelectric power as the major source of energy to become self-dependent on energy sources. This will help the country to preserve the foreign currency and enhance economic prosperity and reduce environmental pollution and environmental crisis. It will help to set an example over the world on this campaign of climate change and as well as contribution amidst this pandemic.

it will enhance hydroelectric dependent transportation, industries, internal market, tourism, and many other activities. It will be a great boon for our country to boost up its economic status.

Note: The writer is former Member of Constituent Assembly


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