For more news visit ☛ http://english.ntdtv.com or Follow us on Twitter ☛ http://twitter.com/NTDTelevision<br /><br />Nepal is in the midst of an energy crisis, leaving the country in the dark. One TV station managed to get their news program on the air, but it was a far cry from normal TV studio lights.<br /><br />Nepal is in the middle of a major power shortage. One TV station resorted to an age-old method to light up their news bulletin.<br /><br />[Tirtha Koirala, News Chief, Kantipur TV]:<br />"Having to broadcast this bulletin with a lantern is a consequence of even more hardship that the Nepalese people are suffering."<br /><br />Electric power is shut off for 12 hours a day because of production problems.<br /><br />[Bijaya Sherchan, Nepal Electricity Authority Official]:<br />"There is not sufficient electricity production. On top of that, there is quite a leakage rather than the proper usage. There is a 26.5 leakage at Nepal Electricity Authority."<br /><br />According to the CIA World Factbook, Nepal has enough hydropower but political uncertainty undermines the foreign investment needed to update facilities.<br /><br />[Sher Singh Bhat, Nepal Electricity Authority Official]:<br />"There has not been any increment in the tariff since 19 years."<br /><br />The Water Resources Minister sums up the country's plight.<br /><br />[Prakash Saran Mahat, Nepali Water Resources Minister]: <br />"Electricity plays a big role in our life. It is used for different purposes. Therefore there is a greater demand by the people to build more transmission lines and increase overall electricity production."<br /><br />Nepal is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world, with almost one-quarter of its population living below the poverty line.
