Kathmandu, Jan 1 (PTI) Nepal plans to import power from India from tomorrow to overcome its severe energy crisis as it faces 16 hours daily blackout soon, an official said today.
In view of the severe power crisis, which is expected to hit Nepal from next month, the country is going to import power from India from tomorrow, Shanker Koirala, secretary at the Ministry of Water Resources, said. He said the government will import 20 Mega Watt power from Tanakpur in India.
Total duration of daily power failure in Nepal is going to reach close to 16 hours next month, from the current 12 hours black out, official sources said, adding that the government decided to buy more power from India to deal with the emergency situation.
Last month, the new Maoist government declared a state of power emergency that includes switching off billboard lights and seeking to run thermal power stations. Nepal is currently generating 240 MW power, which is 60 per cent less than its current demand of 700 MW.
However, according to Nepal Electricity Authority officials, the recently completed 70 MW capacity Middle-Marsyangdi Hydropower Project will come into full operation after two weeks.
The power crisis in the Himalayan state was created mainly due to low level of water in the major hydro power plants of Nepal.
Addition of more power to the national grid is not likely to relieve the country from the crisis as industries of Nepal have demanded uninterrupted power supply to keep their production from grinding to a halt. The government is thinking of arranging separate sources to meet this demand, ministry officials said.
In other measures to tide over the crisis situation, the government has decided to close down banks on Sundays from this week and other offices gradually, officials said. PTI
Source : Press Trust of India