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The continuous high economic growth of India has increased the demand for electricity substantially. Generating electricity in the short term is not an easy task. So, Indian power ministry officials are eager to use the hydroelectric potential of neighboring Nepal. Nepal is a mountainous country and it has many rivers. So, it can be a good source of electricity for India.

Daily India reported:

In a letter to Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon last month, outgoing Power Secretary R.V. Shahi underlined the importance of utilising Nepal's 44,000 MW hydroelectric potential, of which only 650 MW has so far been developed by Kathmandu.

Citing the successful umbrella agreement with Bhutan in July 2006, the power secretary suggested that the foreign ministry consider financing such projects.

Shahi wrote: 'Implementation of these projects will have a demonstrable effect as this would not only enable Nepal to meet its increasing energy requirements, but would also boost its socio-economic development through sustained income from sale of surplus power.'

India is already getting electricity from Bhutan. Bhutan is also rich in hydroelectricity. Indian government should take Nepal seriously and offer generous support in this regard. India cannot generate a lot of electricity within a few years but it can surely assist Nepal to do so and then import electricity from Nepal.