Hydropower and holistic regional development

Hydropower brings holistic development because a project does not only produce electricity; it also builds infrastructure, creates income and supports social services in the area where it is built.

How it is possible

1. Infrastructure: Access roads, bridges, transmission and distribution lines, and telecom links built for the project are later used by local people, opening remote areas to markets.
2. Rural electrification: Local villages get reliable electricity for lighting, cooking, small industries, schools and health posts.
3. Employment and skills: Thousands of jobs during construction and permanent jobs in operation; local people gain technical skills.
4. Local economy: Hotels, shops, transport and agriculture grow around the project; new industries (cement, agro-processing) come due to cheap power.
5. Revenue sharing: As per the Electricity Act and royalty rules, a share of royalty goes to the province and local levels; "local share" schemes let affected people buy project shares.
6. Multipurpose use: Storage reservoirs give irrigation, flood control, drinking water, fisheries and tourism (boating, e.g. Kulekhani).
7. Social services under CSR: Projects build schools, health posts, drinking water schemes and scholarships.
8. Environment: Clean energy replaces firewood and diesel, reducing deforestation and indoor pollution.

Thus, with proper benefit sharing and local participation, a hydropower project becomes a centre of economic, social and environmental development of the whole region.