Opposed to power

NEPALI environmentalists are opposing the Arun III hydro-electric power project in east Nepal on the grounds that there are "more practical, cost-effective and environmentally sound" alternatives, writes Jan Sharma in a Panos Features report from Nepal.

However, the Kathmandu-based Alliance for Energy says the project "will be built entirely using foreign money, foreign technologies and foreign contractors. Hence the exorbitant cost of the scheme: higher per unit cost of hydro-power generation than in almost any country in the world."

The Alliance argues the "small is powerful" approach will enable Nepal to become independent and undertake projects that would help the nation.