Small Hydropower and King Birendra

Kathmandu: After returning from the USA, I was appointed as a director at the Small Hydropower Department. I worked in this department for a decade.

At that time, headquarters of hilly regions and villages were not connected to the national electricity system. We were designated to build a small hydropower project along with managing the production units, electricity distribution and maintenance. We constructed 45 small hydropower plants and two solar power plants, probably one of the largest solar projects in South Asia.

Lacking the road trails to reach the project sites, the construction materials used to be carried to the projects construction site, while electromechanical equipment's were lifted via choppers. With the situation in place, market prices skyrocketed. For example, cement that used to be priced Rs 200 per sack in Kathmandu, cost Rs 1,200 per sack in Namche Bazaar.

That was the most challenging part of my profession. However, we teamed up and had success too. Every year, the then King Birendra visited development regions to analyze and supervise the development activities going on in the regions. Compared to other areas, the hilly section normally had fewer development activities. While the king inaugurated the village-based drinking water taps, the Panchayat political leaders showcased fresh vegetable plants brought from other areas as the local produce. Similarly, imported flowers worth hundreds of thousands of rupees were used to decorate the entrance and stage. These were all done just to please the King.

In the context, it would be considered a great achievement to inaugurate the small hydropower projects. Therefore, I happened to sustain huge pressure to arrange the inauguration of such projects, at least one every year. (In many cases, four year old projects were even put forth for inauguration by the king). 

Some interesting incidents

Once King Birendra, during his travel in the Western Development Region visited the site of Syangja Hydroelectric Project. Citing the shortfall in the evaluation report of the project chief, I had to take responsibility for delivering additional briefing. It was the first time that I was providing an update speech before the king. In my iconic gesture, I spoke to the king as ‘Hajur’ in my oration. The evaluation session was organized in a small room.

While coming out of the meeting room, I happened to encounter Ranjan Raj Khanal, the then secretary of the Royal Palace.

“Where is your hometown?” Khanal asked. “Mira Home Khichapokhari,” I obliged to reply.  “Oh, then you are a son of Juddha Bahadur ji,” Khanal asked me back. I did not dare to put forth anymore questions. Later on that very evening, high level dignitaries who accompanied the king in the Pokhara Camp, chatted on the gesture word that I had used. “A first class officer of His Majesty’s Government, does not even know how to speak to the King. While King is supposed to be called with Sarkar than Hajur,” a participant commented. 

The king, during his visit to Mid-western Development Region, was scheduled to inaugurate a 50 kW solar power plant in Gamgadhi. The Chief District Officer there ordered to use a chopper to airlift a pair of sofa set for the briefing to the king. If I had done so, I would have exhausted an annual budget meant for transporting equipment. I refused to send the furniture while I persuaded the concerned, saying that it was just a matter of showcasing the king as he would not sit there during the briefing session. Later on, the project chief maintained a folding chair for the king.

The king’s aide had no concerns over the actual problems and challenges of the development. They aimed only on how to influence the king in order to receive undue benefits from various projects. Such personnel and commission agents were not happy with my work. They put in their full efforts to sack me from my position. However, I never trembled out of my responsibility, while I was prepared to face any type of circumstances. To my surprise, I was honored with a medal by the king despite not attempting to appease any officials concerned.

Late Shrestha was the Hydropower Engineer, we have taken this historical evidence from his collection and this was published in Urja Khabar bi-annual magazine in 2022 Dec. 16^th