Kulman Ghising plans to build Hydro power from more tax in telephone calls

Kulman Ghising, MD of Nepal Electricity Authority, has expressed his plan to build hydro power plant from more taxes in telecom service. The revenue from telecom services (calls and internet) comes around 2 billion in a year. So, he opined that Government could add 10 percent more taxes in that amount to develop Hydro power plant.

Kulman Ghising is the man who relieved Nepalis from the long hour power cut a.k.a electricity load-shedding. He eliminated the load-shedding using best approaches to control the leakages and segmentation of industry and home usage. Now, he has expressed this plan to develop electricity plants on annual basis. The telecom service is one of the heavy revenues collection in a year, around 2 kharba (hundred billion) rupees. If Government can levy 10 percentage tax in all of the hefty amount, it will be around 20 billion rupees annually, that can build 100 mega watt of electricity.

He has expressed his view in a program called “Barbara Adams Talk series” in Nepal Tourism Board. Which seems a feasible idea to collect fund for the reservoir based hydro power generating plants. Currently Government also collects Rs 5 per liter of petrol, diesel and Air fuels for the hydro power fund. Government plans to use the amount collected there at the rate of 3 Crore 35 lakhs collected per day for Budhigandaki Hydro power plant. Dr. Govinda Pokharel, Dr. Arbind Kumar Mishra and Dr. Kusum Shakya were also present in the program to express their views.

Regarding the upcoming hydro power plant, Upper Tamakoshi is the largest one scheduled to complete for generation and connect to national grid in 2075. But country needs more electricity generation not only to meet the demands of households, but also for the industry and electric railways (if it comes later). So, MD of NEA has mentioned of this idea to raise funds for the hydro power generation.

What do you think of Kulman Sir’s Idea for adding more tax in telecom service and use for developing hydro-power? Please comment below.