Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pumpha Bhusal has said that preparations were underway to provide free electricity to the people living below the poverty line.
During a meeting with former ministers for energy, water resources and irrigation at the Ministry on Thursday, Minister Bhusal said she was making preparations to allow people below the poverty line to consume free electricity.
She informed that she was preparing to reduce the electricity tariff for those who use more electricity for domestic purpose. She said, “I am preparing to provide electricity to the people below the poverty line by giving them free electricity. We have almost reached that conclusion. In order to increase domestic consumption, I have prepared it with the objective of reducing the tariff for those who consume more.”
Minister Bhusal said that it would be easy to provide free electricity to the poor people even if 1 per cent leakage is controlled.
She expressed the belief that providing concessions to farmers on electricity would help in reducing the trade deficit by increasing production.
Minister Bhusal said, “Irrigation will be provided to all cultivable lands. If we can provide basic and free services to irrigation, we can end the system of irrigating by using imported fuel.”
On the occasion, former ministers for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation suggested Minister Bhusal to move ahead by making programmes according to the needs of the country by keeping people in the centre.
Former Minister Barshaman Pun suggested moving ahead by making an integrated master plan in the fields of energy, water resources and irrigation.
He said, “According to the new concept, we have to move towards constructing reservoir projects.”
He said that the proposal of the Minister to provide free electricity to the people living below the poverty line and reduce electricity tariff was appropriate and suggested that she implement it.
Simi larly, Former Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat stressed on the need to construct important hydropower projects to support the country’s economic sector.
He suggested to pay special attention to export of power and increase domestic consumption.
Dr. Mahat said that the issue of providing free electricity to the people should be studied and moved forward. Former Minister Radha Gyawali said that important projects like Budhi Gandaki should be given special priority.
Former Minister Chitra Lekha Yadav stressed on the need to work in line with the expectations of the poor people.
Similarly, another former minister Umesh Kumar Yadav urged to bring a separate Water Resources Act and suggested to not neglect the old trend of ignoring water resources and irrigation by paying more attention to energy alone.
Former Minister Umakanta Jha said that Nepali technicians in the field of irrigation and energy also had good experience and stressed on the need to build new projects by taking them into confidence.
Source : TRN,
