An Economic Analysis of Micro-Hydropower (A Study of Kholshi Khola Micro-Hydropower Boharigaun VDC, Darchula)

Abstract

Micro hydropower is an indigenous and source of energy for which the potential exist in the almost all the Hindu-Kush Himalayan region, which includes Afganistan, Bhutan, china, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. Micro-hydropower is generally defined as decentralized small scale water power plant less than 100kw. Microhydropower projects have gained enormous popularly in developing countries during

the four decade.

Micro-hydropower plants are installed in Nepal's remote hilly and mountainous areas. These are useful to provide electricity mainly for lighting facility, Agro-processing like grinding, hulling and operating radio, TV, computers and some other end uses are its benefits. The plants up to 100 Kilo Watt capacity are to be known as micro hydropower but the schemes of 5 Kilo Watt or less, now, have to be known as Pico-hydropower. Micro hydro power can fulfill the demand of electricity in backward and isolated areas. The marginalized people are living in remote rural areas which lack balance of regional development. To some extent the development can’t be promoted in rural areas in the absence of the electricity. So Microhydropower

plant may fulfill the energy demand to some extent by providing electricity. The thesis work entitled "Economic analysis of Micro-hydropower: A Study of Kholshi Khola Micro-hydropower Boharigaun VDC Darchula district” has attempted to fulfill the following objectives: to find out the Socio-economic impact of Microhydropower

plant, current status of Micro-hydropower development in Nepal, electrical goods consumed by sample households and their technological improvement. In the study area, there were total 538 households affected by the Micro-hydropower project (MHP). In the field survey out of 538 households only 54 households were selected by using simple random sampling method. The sample is about 10% of the population and lottery method were applied to select households and to fulfill the objectives of the study. The present study shows the following result and recommendations: The main castes in the study area are Chhetri (64.81%), Brahmin (11.11%) and Dalit 24.07 percent peoples practice Hindu religion. Agriculture, foreign employment services and business are the main income sources of sample households. After MHP project people installed industries such as furniture, agro-milling, samill computer institute, poultry firms etc. and create the employment opportunitieswhereas 35 (64.81%) sample households has raided their income. Agro-mill make theespecially women life easy and the living standard of the respondent has changeafter electricity. Agricultural production has increased after MHP project by gettingirrigation and other facilities. Possession of various electric instruments has increased after MHP, which make the villagers life easy and help to change the life the people. The study habits of the children have been increased. 87.03 percent (44households Said their children's performance in the school has improved in holistways. The entire households (100%) is ready to pay more amount than prevailing rattomaintain the project and make it sustain. The main recommendations of the present study are: the participation of women planning and implementation of micro-hydropower plant needs to be ensured.MHP project should be developed timely to meet the present growing needs in remote rural areas of the country. The sustainability of MHP is another issue. The dam constructeis located at the week area as well as 'Kulo' is built on supply areas so there is fear landslide. So the dam and 'Kulo' should be required for more securely.