Hydropower Prospects

In 1911, Nepal installed 500-KW Chandrajyoti Hydro-electric power station in Pharping in south west of Kathmandu during the reign of prime minister Chandra Shumsher. The country’s first ever power project was a milestone in giving a push to the nation’s economic development. It was set up almost 29 years after the world’s first power plant was established in USA in 1882. This was indeed interesting that the country was reeling from the dark age in terms of political freedom and social equality but the rulers of the time showed their inclination to illuminate the country albeit in a limited scale. Despite this early initiative, there was no headway in electricity development for over a century owing to lack of technology, investment, human resources and more importantly, the inhospitable political climate.