KATHMANDU, Nov 29: The Trade Unions at Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) have demanded that the NEA immediately conducted a feasibility study of the hydro projects it owned.
The five Unions have demanded with the Energy Ministry, besides NEA, to further the feasibility study of the hydro powers as Dudhkoshi, Upper Arun, Tamakoshi-V, for the swift address on the prevailing power crisis in the country, said Khagendra Shahi, the Chairman of the Association of National Employees.
The Unions have said that the NEA should first take on the hydro projects that are ´easy´ and ´less costly so as to accelerate the hydro projects which have been in the paper for long but not executed.
A press statement released by the employees´ association on Saturday urged the NEA and Energy Ministry to give high priority to the development of hydro projects by augmenting investment in this sector.
Also recommended by the Unions were to commence the three hydro projects under three different model as public, private and partnership.
The World Bank has expressed its willingness to invest in these hydro projects with the total capacity of 335 MW.
The projects were stagnant although the feasibility study was conducted in 1999, stating the estimated project cost at Rs 5.34 billion.
Experts opined that the electricity would cost Rs 2.74 per unit once the projects start producing electricity.
Source : RSS
