HoR meeting: Energy is the basis of prosperity

Deliberation on various headings of three different ministries is underway under the Appropriation Bill in today's meeting of the House of Representatives.

Taking part in deliberation on various headings of Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and Home Ministry, lawmaker Sher Bahadur Tamang said that energy is the basis for the prosperity of the country.

Tamang shared 2,800 megawatt electricity is enough to the total population of the country and rest could be produced and sold.

He opined, "We did competition to take credit of removing load shedding from the country by purchasing electricity of millions of rupees from India. The country has now spent two billion rupees in cooking gas, petrol and diesel. It will be stopped if the country sells rest of the electricity producing it."

The lawmaker further said that electricity could be provided free of cost to the people and it was necessary to carry out study in this regard, suggesting carrying out activities keeping the national interest in mind for power development.

Similarly, Devendra Raj Kandel said that energy is the element to strengthen the country.

He suggested to implement 'Nepal's Water, People's Investment' scheme introduced by government to invest public's money in hydropower projects. He viewed that through optimal use of hydro resources, we could carry out all sorts of works through electricity such as cooking and riding electric vehicles among others thereby ending the need to procure petroleum products and LPG gas for cooking.

Yashoda Gurung argued that it was imperative to maintain peace and order to secure citizens and to maintain law and order. She commented that Nepal's electricity market was being India-centric and urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to maintain a good diplomatic relations with Nepal's neighbour countries.

Parbati Kumari Bishunkhe viewed that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) should take into account women-friendly reforms programmes in prison should while it was considering reforms in prison management. Calling for the safety of security personnel, she drew the attention of the MoHA to ensure safe security posts for the security personnel.

Leeladevi Sitaula criticized that although Nepal is said to be an independent, undivided sovereign nation, concerns and questions about security were hugely raised. She drew the attention of government towards ending aberrations and anomalies prevailing in the country.