Electricity

[Walosi]

The limited electric supply mentioned by Uncle Bill in a previous thread is a prime irritation as a rationed item, but what about a deliberate interruption?? The lads currently doing all the interruption there are undoubtedly using the same handbook their kinfolk used south of us over the past few years, and that included power lines and generating facilities. Don't have any idea of the equipment available to Pala, or what expense might be involved in securing equipment heavy enough to run the operation full-time (should that become necessary), but is there any way we can help out. Uncle Bill estimated that we are supporting approximately 100 people between the two shops,including those periphally involved. This was on an old post that came up on a "Khukuri" search, so it may be more by now. What are the chances of establishing a contingency fund, by donation, from all of us who feel we have benefitted from the low labor costs and frugal plant management (not to mention UBDOTDs) for use as seen fit for electric generator upgrade, whatever. I get enough duns from the NRA every week to make me feel certain I could cough up $50 out of my SS check. Comment, si'l vou plas???

 

[Bill Martino]

I don't like to air our woes and troubles on the forum so I have not made a post about the electricity problem in Nepal which has a twofold cause.

One problem is the Maoists like to destroy electric and telephone lines. But this problem is only intermittent and can be solved with repair.

The second and a bigger problem is this: The Kathmandu Valley is just like California in that too many people have crowded into too small an area and the utilities cannot support the population -- electricity and water are in short supply.

One can count on water pressure for only 2 to 4 hours per day so storage tanks are a must. Blackouts and brownouts are a daily ritual now in many sections of the Kathmandu Valley and the shortage has spread all the way out to Surya Benai. Currently they tell me we are rationed to 5 hours of electricity per day at the shop. Forges, grinders, buffers and hand tools are all electricity driven so I think a generator is going to be a necessity. Most businesses who are tourist oriented -- restaurants, hotels, travel offices -- have generators for backup and I think we must join them.

I have had several offers from nephews to help us purchase this generator and to those I give great thanks and appreciation but it is imperative that we keep this operation running like a business. So, if a generator is in our future we must buy it ourselves. The kamis do not want charity but only the opportunity to work.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
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