An Economic Analysis of Micro-Hydropower (A Study of Kholshi Khola Micro-Hydropower Boharigaun VDC, Darchula)
Date
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Economics
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.