Back to the dark age

Forgive me for beginning with a cliche but Nepal is,my friends, the second richest country in water resources and these days the fact crosses my mind every single time any of my work gets messed up due to the power cuts. Twelve hours a day without electricity would not have been unbearable if we were not so much hooked to its uses. More than a convenience, it has become a necessity. I can only imagine how the already dwindling industries in the countries are surviving.

I don't enjoy preaching pessimism but what am I supposed to do, given the sad state of affairs? The economy is on the verge of collapsing, thanks to the decreased production in industries. I t is only a matter of time before the effects of power cuts would start to be felt acutely. Most of the people are only complaining of the day to day inconvenience. But, hospitals are already complaining of inability to operate medical equipments and life support systems. Meanwhile, the leaders and lawmakers continue to bask in apathy as they enjoy uninterrupted power supply in their residences and offices.

I can't comprehend the moral ground for a government to stay in power when its people have to suffer more than 12 hours load shedding a day. Now we hear they are talking about some thermal plant, another way to impoverish the country and push the Electricity Authority to eternal debt. The fervent eagerness for a diesel plant that will sell electricity for Rs. 36 per unit only raises question on the intentions of the leaders. Enough is enough. It is unbelievable that even at this critical juncture, the leaders and bureaucrats have not stopped lusting for the hefty commissions. The country can sure go to hell, right? Unfortunately, the rebel government does not seem any less corrupt than the prior ones. Instead of forwarding the procedures for buying electricity with India at only Rs. 4 for unit, they are deliberately trying to complicate the situation and force diesel plant as the last resort.

The Electricity authority did not let a single MW of power add into national transmission in the last eight years. The reason being, commissions could not be adjusted as per their wish. So, they thought lets stop the plants altogether, till a lucrative project comes around or till they can consolidate the desired commissions. Sinister but true.

No matter how much we talk about New Nepal ,the truth is the newer Nepal is dilapidated than the old one. With the same old diseases of corruption, mediocrity and fatalism, I don't know how the country can reinvigorate itself. I can only hope that god help this country. But, as we saw even "Pasupatinath le hami sabai ko kalyan garun" could not really help. SO what hope god has for this newely secular red country, and that too a Russian-Chinese hybrid god?