Ram Kumar Kamat, Kathmandu, October 4:

Naumure hydel project, on the west Rapti, promises to accrue multiple benefits for an energy-starved Nepal. India has agreed to build the 250-MW project as a goodwill gesture. The project, located 15 km upstream from Bhalubang in Pyuthan district, figured prominently during the bilateral talks on water resources that were held earlier this week. A detailed project report (DPR) is expected in three months.

"Naumure is on the lines of Kulekhani. It will be extremely beneficial to us. We can generate electricity, engage in irrigation during summer and control floods in the rainy season," said Shital Babu Regmi, joint secretary, water resources. New Delhi has also agreed to conduct a feasibility study for irrigation in Kapilvastu district that lies on the southern slope of the project. "Naumure pond will help control flood in Laxmanpur. At a conservative estimate, 40,000 hectares are in dire need of irrigation. However, the storage capacity in the pond may not be enough for such a massive exercise," said the joint secretary. The government, meanwhile, plans to build a reservoir at Sikta in Banke district to irrigate 23,000 hectares in the adjoining areas.

"The Rapti is the only source of irrigation in both Kapilvastu and Banke districts," said Anup Upadhyay, spokesperson, Ministry of Water Resources. Nepal also aims to build a reservoir at Bhalubang to facilitate irrigation in Dang district. "India will not benefit from Naumure. However, New Delhi's only concern is the project does not lead to a shortfall of water in the downstream," explained Upadhyay.

India plans to carry out a pre-feasibility study to verify Nepal's estimates. "It will help ascertain whether India's current irrigation capacity is affected after the completion of the project," said Upadhyay.

Nepal, which is only second to Brazil in terms of water resources potential, boasts of a capacity of over 80,000 MW of hydel power. Currently, it faces a shortfall of around 225 MW. Annually, the country needs an additional 10 per cent of energy to meet the existing demand.

Source: The Himalayan Times, October 05 2008, Aswin 19, 2065