Role of Lower Parewa Khola Micro-Hydropower Project in Dangapa VDC Terhathum District

Abstract

Energy is major determining factor for the rural development as well as national development. Development is the function of energy D = F (E). It is basic need for all sectors such as agriculture, social services, transportation, communication, industry, trade and commerce. It plays the role of a catalyst in rural development by providing a modern form of energy. It can effectively help in reducing the drudgery of the rural population and cutting down the time required to collect and use traditional forms of energy. It is used for lighting, heating, cooking in specially hilly areas. Nepal's per capita final energy consumption of about 15 GJ. Only four other countries in the world have a per capita consumption lower than Nepal. Traditional energy provided 85.85 percent, commercial energy provided 13.54 percent and only 0.61 percent received from renewable energy in total energy consumption. About 40 percent of total population has been benefited from electricity where as 33 percent consume from national grid and 7 percent from alternative energy. The total potential power of water in Nepal has been estimated to be 83,000 MW of which 42,750 MW is economically feasible. However, only about 548 MW has been generated by the various hydropower stations. There are approximately 600 rivers totaling about 45,000 KM in length and innumerable rivulets flowing from the mountains in the country. Micro-hydropower plays crucial role to reduce energy crisis of Nepal. The present study is emphasized in the role of Lower Parewa Khola micro-hydro in Dangapa VDC, Terhathum District. It was conducted with following objectives:  To find out the energy utilization pattern of Dangapa VDC of Terhathum District.  To examine contribution of Micro-hydropower in rural electrification.  To assess the socio-economic impact of MHP in Dangapa VDC of Terhathum district. Dangapa VDC of Terhathum district was selected as the study area. To achieve of the above objectives, the study guided by simple size from where the sample population 10 percent and the total sample is to be 31 households. Survey found that more than 67 percent of the total households benefited from MHP in the study area. After the initialization of MHP, more than 35.48 percent of the sample respondents utilized their surplus time on households activities. After using electric bulbs students paid one hour more to study every day during evening. Only about 9.68 percent of the sample respondents were involved in productive work by using MHP and income level was increased considerably. It was recommended that simple and transparent procedures for Loan sanctioning should be developed and institutionalised. Capabilities should be built up at village level for operation, maintenance and repairing. There is a need to integrate MHP system promotion with income generating and social development activities in order to justify the subsidy scheme. Community owned and managed micro-hydropower plants should be promoted.