Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Barshaman Pun has said the base of economic prosperity would be built by increasing the consumption electricity.

Inaugurating the Fifth National Convention of the National Association of Community Electricity Users- Nepal (NACEUN) in Lalitpur today, Minister Pun said all the citizens would have access to electricity within five years.

He said 35 per cent of the population of the country did not have access to electricity and the government was making efforts to provide electricity to this section of the population. The Energy Minister said the community organisations have an important role to conveniently provide electricity services to the citizens.

Noting that the government has set the target of producing 3,000 megawatts electricity in three years, 5,000 megawatts electricity in five years and 10,000 megawatts electricity in ten years, he pledged to provide electricity services to all the people and regions.

The Minister said the White Paper the government issued few days ago has laid emphasis on energy production, construction of transmission line and other policy issues, adding that the government issued the White Paper not for cheap popularity but was an effort towards development with policy stability.

The community organisations have invested Rs 1.25 billion for community electrification. More than 5,000 people have got employment in electricity-based enterprises.

President of NACEUN Narayan Gyawali said that they were facing difficulties in developing power and process of electrification in the remote areas as it entailed higher costs. He said the Nepal Electricity Authority has not been able to work as per the spirit and aspirations of the community electrification concept. Gyawali also demanded implementation of a clear rural electrification policy.