Your article 'Electric switch' (#313) was a grand promotion of electric cars backed by statistics, cost analysis, and presentation of future cars that can be manufactured in Nepal. Sounds very impressive, but I see two main problems. First, is it possible to have a smart government in Nepal? Our past experience has been quite disappointing.

The biggest inevitable hurdle is electricity. The NOC is broke and the NEA is sliding towards bankruptcy. There is daily load shedding, even in the monsoon. It will take at least ten years-if all goes well with all proposed projects, and with a smart government-to be self-sufficient in electricity and meet industrial and domestic demand. And that electricity will be expensive. Where will we get affordable electricity when we fail to exploit our rich hydropower potential?

I think, Kunda Dixit, the only way to realise your suggestion is to first get a government that will effectively deal with corruption. Nepal is the only country in the world where state-owned corporations like the NOC and the NEA are in financial trouble despite being monopolies.

S Tuladhar,
Geneva, Switzerland