Mountains of Water

With eight of the highest peak s on the planet, Nepal is ever y climber’s Valhalla. Pity its many gushing rivers exer t an equally fatal att raction on dam builders.

Nepal’s huge water supply is attracting builders of large dams, who are tightening their grip on a weak local government constantly on the lookout for foreign investment and energy to sell to neighbouring countries. More than 30 projects have been proposed, though attempts to dam Nepal’s waterways have been ongoing for decades. As far back as 1995 controversy arose over the World Bank’s decision to withdraw from the Arun III Hydroelectric Project, expected to cost around $760 million (€ 560M) and considered one of the most important operations planned for Asia at the time.