Socio-Economic Effects of Panauti Small Hydro Electricity Project on Panauti Municipality of Kavrepalanchok District of Nepal

Abstract

There are approximately 6,000 small and large rivers in Nepal, which provide significant potential for hydropower development. Hydropower is considered one of the most important sources of energy supply for the country. The studies focus on the socio-economic impacts of the small hydroelectricity projects on local communities in the Kavrepalanchok district. Primary data were used as the main source of information, collected through a sample survey. Using a simple random sampling technique, 95 households were selected as the sample population. Descriptive statistics were applied to analyze the data. The study concludes that small hydroelectricity projects have had significant socio-economic impacts on the local people in the study area. These projects have positively influenced the lives of the sample population by increasing children's learning time and improving school education. In addition, the projects have contributed to better access to physical facilities such as safe drinking water, modern housing, improved sanitation systems, and transportation services. They have also helped enhance the pricing of agricultural products, as well as the development of industries and trade. Furthermore, small hydroelectric projects have supported improvements in income, health, and education, thereby raising the overall living standards of rural people in the project-affected areas.