Selling hydropower to Silicon Valley in the name of data centers may not bring real benefits to Nepal

 Selling hydropower to Silicon Valley in the name of data centers may not bring real benefits to Nepal

A few months ago, a well-intentioned development consultant working in Nepal explained to me why Nepal is a perfect fit for green computing (environmentally friendly data centers). His argument was that the country is ideal because of its abundant hydropower, cool mountainous climate, and its location between two of the world’s largest digital economies. He was right in a way. But he failed to understand what all of this would ultimately lead to.

To put it simply, the proposal is to let a foreign company build a data center here, run it on Nepal’s own hydropower, attract foreign investment, and call it green. It sounds like a win, but personally, I don’t think it’s a win.

In green computing, the word ‘green’ refers almost entirely to the source of electricity. Everything else is left out of the equation. Data centers, in particular, are heavy users of water. Large hyperscale infrastructure can consume up to 10 million liters of water per day for cooling.

Nepal is facing a severe seasonal water crisis, and the rivers that feed the hydroelectric system are the same ones that farming communities have depended on for centuries. No one is talking about this water trade-off. That is, no one is talking about how much water is lost to agriculture and locals when water is used to run data centers, or what Nepal has to lose.

In addition, there is another big problem of embedded carbon (the hidden carbon emitted during the manufacture and transportation of goods). The cement and rods used to build buildings, and the large server machines transported by trucks and ships, are also contributing to pollution. These servers break down every three to five years and have to be replaced.

This leads to a huge amount of electronic waste. There is no effective system in Nepal to recycle and reuse such old machines or hardware. So this electronic waste will eventually end up in some corner of the country, where those foreign investors probably won't even notice. There are many other things that are good in Nepal, but our waste management or recycling system is not good.

If we look deeper into the issue of electricity, this argument also proves to be weak. It is true that Nepal produces more electricity. However, in my experience, this is only during the rainy season. Even today, when the water level in the rivers decreases during the dry season in winter, households and industries have to face electricity shortages.

If Nepal provides electricity to these data centers of foreign companies, that electricity cannot be sold to India at a good price. Similarly, domestic industries that are trying to produce something in the country do not get that electricity either. Nor can that electricity be delivered to the remote homes of Karnali, which are still burning kerosene.

What Nepal should not forget is that this country has spent the past few decades in extreme load shedding. The situation was so miserable that even in Kathmandu, the electricity was out for 16/17 hours a day. At that time, the phrase ‘lights gone out’ was always on people’s lips. I remember, I used to use the ‘lights come’ app myself to know when the electricity would come back. After such a long struggle, ending that dark era and letting the electricity that was barely collected run for our own country and not for our own country is like ‘walking in the opposite direction’.

The argument that these data centers ‘create jobs’ sounds the most tempting. But when you dig deeper, this is also the thing that proves to be the most hollow. In a large data center, barely a few dozen people get permanent jobs, and that too in security guards and general maintenance work. The main technical work that pays well is done by specialists, who are often foreigners.

It is true that they bring in big investments. But that money immediately goes abroad. Because that money could be used to buy server machines from America or other Asian countries and pay for software licenses. The government gives various tax breaks to bring such companies to Nepal, which also results in the loss of revenue that the country is supposed to get.

In the end, what happens is that Nepal gives its land, electricity, political support, and even the transmission line or infrastructure. However, all the profits from this go abroad.

My country, Ireland, said ‘yes’ to all these things (offshore data centers and tax breaks). And the situation there over the last 10 years has taught us a valuable lesson. Ireland’s calculations were not entirely wrong. Companies there were only charged 12.5 percent corporate tax (minimum tax). This not only filled the country with data centers, but also large technology companies like Google and Meta opened their European headquarters in the capital, Dublin. This really benefited the Irish economy. However, the story of the data centers is different.

In the 2010s, Ireland became a data center hub in Europe, thanks to its cool Atlantic climate, access to the European market, and low taxes. In 2015, data centers consumed only about 5 percent of the country's total electricity, but by 2023, they were consuming 21 percent. According to AirGrid, the country's national electricity transmission system operator, data centers will consume about a third of the country's electricity by the mid-2030s. .

On the one hand, Ireland has set its own goal of producing 70 percent renewable energy by 2030. But on the other hand, this goal has been undermined by the fact that foreign servers are consuming electricity. The electricity infrastructure there could not cope with this pressure. Due to which, in 2022, the Electricity Authority completely banned the connection of new data centers in the capital Dublin.

The biggest hit has been to the general public. According to the latest statistics (May 2026), the people of Ireland are buying electricity at the most expensive price in the European Union. Citizens there are paying almost 40 percent more than the average price in Europe. Having to pay more than 40 cents per unit, an average household is facing an additional financial burden of about 480 euros (about 82 thousand rupees) per year on its electricity bill alone.

The issue of water has also become another big problem there. Microsoft's data center at Grange Castle (for drawing too much water) has been the subject of so much controversy and scrutiny that when the UN's special representative visited Ireland to assess the state of the clean environment, Microsoft refused to let him enter its data center.

The number of jobs it has provided is no longer a mystery. Even if all the data centers across Ireland were combined, only a few thousand people would be directly employed there. This is an area that alone generates 20 percent (one-fifth) of the country's electricity. Billions have been invested in building transmission lines to deliver electricity to it. These data centers occupy so much land; many homes could be built there for the general public. In comparison, these jobs are a very small and disappointing return.

Ireland had many such facilities that Nepal does not have. Ireland is a member state of the European Union (EU), it has a reliable legal system. On top of that, the first language is English. In addition, the country has decades of experience in making deals with big tech companies. Its tax-free policies have not only brought data centers, but also large offices for companies like Google and Meta. Where tens of thousands of engineers found jobs and a ‘knowledge-based economy’ developed along with server machines.

But that may not be the case in Nepal. Nepal will only get server racks. But people will not get desks to work. Despite such favorable conditions, data centers in Ireland have crippled public infrastructure, caused electricity shortages and provided jobs to only a few people who could not fill a football stadium in the name of employment. In such a situation, Nepal will have to make deals on even weaker ground, the results of which are sure to be worse than Ireland’s.

I have been closely monitoring the actual development of the technology sector here, living in Nepal for more than a decade. As expected, Nepal’s IT services exports will reach $1 billion by 2025, which is more than double in the last three years.

Nepali engineers who studied at world-renowned universities like MIT and Carnegie Mellon in the US are returning home with investments and international networks. Nepal is really building a strong foundation now. This development is not happening by becoming ‘cheap workers’ in the supply chain of foreigners, but by Nepali engineers themselves becoming founders and owners of companies.

However, this so-called ‘green compute’ (foreign data center) plan is nowhere in line with the real progress of the country. It is trying to make Nepal a mere shepherd who provides water and electricity. Where local resources are used, but the real profit is taken by someone else.

Whose law applies to the data of a company kept in Nepal but registered abroad? What if a foreign government exerts legal pressure tomorrow? Such questions are never discussed seriously before an agreement is signed.

Nepal is between two large countries like India and China. Both these countries do not take digital infrastructure (data centers, etc.) built in their neighborhoods for granted. The decision to bring a US company to the Chinese border (Nepal) and set up a data center, or to allow a Chinese company to open a data center at a distance that India considers a security threat, cannot be dismissed for long as ‘it’s just a business decision’. This could quickly become a matter of geopolitical tension.

Once large data center buildings are built here and machines are connected, Nepal’s negotiating position becomes even weaker. Because those machines have to be repaired by foreign experts, and the spare parts needed to keep them running have to be imported from abroad. Thus, Nepal is forced to rely on foreigners structurally.

One argument is always heard in support of this. That is, isn’t it better to run a data center using hydropower in Nepal than to run a data center burning coal (and polluting it) in some other country? However, this is just an illusion created by showing a false alternative. The main question here is not what to use instead of coal. The main question is how Nepal uses the excess electricity it has and how to make good use of this short opportunity to benefit on its own terms.

Sell electricity directly to foreign countries at a good price, open industries in the country and invest in our own infrastructure in a way that benefits Nepalis first. These are the options that bring sustainable development to the country. However, a foreign data center is something that, if it were to arise from here tomorrow, would affect almost all of us. The money will be taken with it.

As I write this article, there is talk of more investment coming in. The first project approved will be called a pilot project. When the second project comes, it will be called momentum. And, when it reaches the third project, it will be given the form of policy.

Nepal has very little time left to decide what kind of economy it wants to build. Nepal must make a clear decision before this opportunity is lost. Otherwise, foreign consultants will move on to another country with favorable conditions.

(The author Jonathan Clark has been living in Nepal since 2015. This article is a translation of his blog. He published a blog titled ‘Who Actually Benefits When Nepal Sells Hydro to Silicon Valley’ on his website on 7 May 2026. He created a software called ‘ConX’ in 2015 and sold it to the American company ‘Houzz’ in 2021. Jonathan currently works as the ‘Director of Engineering’ in the same company. He mostly lives in Lalitpur.)

‘A person smiling on the outside may be in pain on the inside’

 ‘A person smiling on the outside may be in pain on the inside’

A hectic lifestyle, economic insecurity, rising unemployment, social expectations and fear of the future, as well as the influence of excessive social media, are further increasing mental pressure.

‘A person smiling on the outside may be in pain on the inside’

The \'Let's talk about our hearts\' campaign launched by the Nepal government is a national initiative to make mental health a social priority and break the silence.

The campaign aims to encourage adolescents, youth and the general public to seek awareness, empathy and support about mental health.

We live in a society bound by collective thinking and culture. It is our habit to talk to each other, gather, and exchange experiences. Whether at home, in a tea shop, in the office or on social media - there is no shortage of words. But one important thing is often lost in all this dialogue - the heart.

From the outside, many people look normal and happy. They have a smile on their face, and their behavior is easy. But that smile is not always genuine. Some people put on a show of their pain so that no one can see it. On the inside, they may be tired, scared, confused, and depressed. These mental struggles that are not visible on the outside are not easily understood, and are often ignored.

The Importance of the ‘Let’s Talk About It’ Campaign

The ‘Let’s Talk About It’ campaign launched by the Government of Nepal is not just an information program, it is a national initiative to make mental health a social priority, break the silence, give courage to speak up, and encourage people to seek help.

The campaign focuses on promoting awareness, empathy, compassion, and dialogue about mental health, especially among adolescents, youth, and the general public. It aims to remove discrimination and misconceptions, develop stress management and various skills, and encourage people to seek professional help when needed. In addition, the campaign also covers social safety and support services such as digital wellness, family and community support, and the 1166 helpline.

The Pain Behind the Smile

In daily life, many people are fulfilling their responsibilities with a smile, but on the inside, they are suffering. They want to express their feelings, but they are afraid - 'If I tell my pain, will society think I am weak, will they criticize me, will they blame me?' Worries like these prevent them from speaking up.

Because of these thoughts and fears, the pain of the mind remains hidden inside. Over time, these problems become deeper and begin to affect the person's performance, relationships, and enthusiasm for life. Eventually, it may become difficult to even do normal tasks.

How do mental problems look?

Many in our society still associate mental problems with 'madness'. Most people easily assume that 'he is depressed' or 'he is crazy' when they see symptoms such as sadness, anxiety, fatigue, or inability to concentrate. But the reality is different from such simple perceptions.

Mental problems come in many forms and can manifest differently in each person. While some may suffer from constant sadness, lack of confidence, or insomnia, others may experience excessive anger, anxiety, social distancing, or changes in behavior.

Some people may experience difficulty expressing their feelings, losing focus at work or school, or having difficulty fulfilling daily responsibilities. Similarly, there may be a more severe mental health problem that can have a long-term impact.

Importantly, not all mental health problems are always obvious from the outside. Some people hide their suffering and act as if they are normal, which can mislead society. Therefore, a sensitive approach is needed to understand each person’s experiences, circumstances, and inner feelings, rather than judging mental health problems solely based on external behavior.

Why is a mental health campaign necessary now?

Mental health problems are not new in Nepal. But the environment for talking about them openly was not created for a long time. Many still associate mental health with ‘weakness’ or ‘madness’. These are challenging times – a hectic lifestyle, economic insecurity, rising unemployment, social expectations and fear of the future, as well as the influence of excessive social media, are increasing mental pressure.

These are the reasons why people are stressed inside. In such situations, the ‘Speak Your Mind’ campaign works to break the silence, encourage people to speak up, and create an environment that inspires them to seek help.

Listening: Our Shared Responsibility

Many people ask – what can we do if we are not the treating doctors?’ The answer is simple – we can listen. This means listening attentively, not interrupting, and not imposing immediate solutions. Without denying feelings, sometimes a simple statement like ‘I understand you’ can be a great support.

When is it necessary to seek help from a specialist?

Not all problems can be solved by yourself or with the help of a friend. If the problem persists for a long time, begins to affect work, studies, or relationships, persistent negative thinking increases, or thoughts of self-harm/suicide begin to arise, it is essential to seek help immediately.

In this case, consulting a doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional can be a life-saving step. Seeking help in a timely manner can help Health problems are easier to manage and have a positive impact on a person's life, performance and overall health.

Only when we speak our minds, understand others and show empathy, can we build a healthy, cooperative society. The 'Speak Your Mind' campaign gives us this message - speaking up is not weakness, it is courage. Sometimes, a little listening and a little support can save a life.

Children may be deficient in vitamin D in winter, what to do?

 Children may be deficient in vitamin D in winter, what to do?

Sunlight is the best natural source to compensate for the problem of vitamin D deficiency.

Children may be deficient in vitamin D in winter, what to do?

Vitamin D helps strengthen children's bones and teeth, helps in height growth, and increases their ability to fight disease.

Children are deficient in vitamin D due to less exposure to sunlight in winter, wearing thick clothes, and not taking them outside much.

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for the healthy development of children. Vitamin D strengthens children's bones and teeth, helps in height growth, increases their ability to fight disease, and helps in muscle development.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, vitamin D deficiency can cause problems such as 'rickets', a softening of bones in children, which weakens bones. But vitamin D deficiency in children is seen due to less exposure to sunlight in winter, not taking children outside for a long time, and wearing thick clothes.

Parents need to know why children develop vitamin D deficiency during the winter, how to recognize it, and how to prevent and treat it.

Causes of vitamin D deficiency in newborns:

Vitamin D deficiency in newborns is often associated with pregnancy. The baby gets vitamin D from the mother while she is in the womb. If the mother does not spend enough time in the sun during pregnancy or is deficient in vitamin D, the baby can also be born with a deficiency. According to the Mayo Clinic, vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women increases the risk of rickets in the baby.

Although breast milk is the best food, it contains low levels of vitamin D. Therefore, exclusively breastfed babies may need vitamin D supplements.

In winter, if the baby is not exposed to the sun due to fear of cold, the skin cannot produce vitamin D. The body produces vitamin D from UVB rays, which are less in winter.

Babies born prematurely have low vitamin D stores in the body, which increases the risk of deficiency by 2-4 times.

Children with dark skin produce less vitamin D from the sun, and this problem is also more common in polluted areas.

Why is vitamin D deficiency more common in winter?

The main reasons for vitamin D deficiency in winter are:

- The sun's rays are shorter in winter.

- Morning and evening sunlight are not effective, because the 'UVB' rays are weaker.

- The child's body is covered with thick clothes, which blocks the skin from the sun.

- Especially in cold weather, children play less outside.

- Fog and pollution block the sun, which reduces UVB rays.

For all these reasons, the child's skin cannot produce enough vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency weakens the immune system, which leads to frequent infections.

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency

The symptoms of vitamin D deficiency vary according to age.

In newborns and young infants: from birth to 12 months

- Excessive crying, irritability.

-Low milk intake or loss of appetite.

-Slowness in lying down, sitting up or crawling - 'delayed motor development'.

-Soft skull bones.

-Excessive sweating, especially on the head, even at a young age.

-Vitamin D deficiency causes fatigue and weak bones.

In older children: above 1 year

-Leg pain or fatigue.

-Fatigue or muscle weakness when walking.

-Bold legs.

-Frequent illness, such as respiratory infections.

-Height and weight not growing as expected.

Treatment and prevention of vitamin D deficiency

The sun is the best natural source to replenish vitamin D deficiency. Therefore, you should expose your hands, feet or face to the sun for at least 3-4 days a week, for 15-30 minutes.

Newborns can be given vitamin D drops as recommended by a doctor. Do not increase the amount yourself, as excessive amounts can cause problems.

Foods rich in vitamin D can be given after 6 months.

-Egg yolk

-Milk yogurt, ghee in small quantities

-Sun-dried mushrooms

Vitamin D deficiency can be prevented with these foods. Salmon and eggs are also suitable for pregnant women.

Tips for parents:

-Mothers should take vitamin D daily during pregnancy. For that, they should pay attention to sunlight and nutrition.

-The baby should be safely exposed to sunlight regularly, but sunburn should be avoided.

-Vitamin D drops can be given to babies who are exclusively breastfed on the advice of a doctor.

-The child's development should be monitored regularly, such as height, weight and motor skills.

-If there is any doubt, a health worker should be consulted.

By adopting these measures, children's vitamin D levels can be maintained even in winter, which improves their overall health.

Are you inactive? You may have such a serious illness

 Are you inactive? You may have such a serious illness

"There is a greater risk of cancer to those who smoke a single cigarette every day, than there is a greater risk to those who avoid work, exercise and hard work and lead an inactive life."

A lazy and inactive lifestyle along with the use of comforts and facilities is making our society sick. Go to everyone's house now, you will find someone suffering from diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, uric acid, varicose veins, osteoporosis.

To get rid of such a problem, we must promote physical activity like labor, exercise, sports in our daily routine.

What can be done?

Going for a morning walk, jogging, skipping rope, playing the beat, running the treadmill, playing sports, swimming, hiking, dancing, yoga, aerobics, zumba, ballet, salsa, hiking, walking Riding a bicycle, riding a static bicycle, going to the gym, climbing stairs, jogging, playing wushu, sailing a boat, doing water exercises, gardening or gardening.

What should be the exercise?

The World Health Organization has considered the following features as indispensable in scientific exercise for health protection:

1. Intensity – Exercise should be intense enough to increase the heart and breathing rate and break a sweat once.

2. Duration (prolonged) – Exercise should be done continuously for at least 15 to 30 minutes without stopping.

3. Regular: Exercise should be repeated at least 3 times a week.

As indicated by Eastern health science, the inclusion of the following dimensions in scientific exercise is considered indispensable –

1. During exercise, the heart rate and breathing rate should increase as well as sweating profusely.

2. All the joints of the body should be moved once.

3. Exercise should not only affect the muscles and bones, but also affect the soft organs in the body, such as the intestines, kidneys, liver, liver, lungs, heart and brain.

How to exercise

1. Exercise should not be started randomly. It should also be prepared beforehand. A place full of natural beauty, pollution-free, with sufficient air play and light should be selected.

2. Half an hour before the start, you should drink two glasses of water enough and right before the start, but you should not drink water immediately after the exercise.

3. Patients with special diseases and conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure should not exercise randomly and only exercise as prescribed by the doctor.

4. Exercise should only be done to the best of one's ability, one should not come to the competition and try to do it haphazardly. Before starting, warm-up (up and relaxation-loosening) exercises should be done.

5. Exercise-specific clothes, such as shoes, belts, t-shirts, if any, should be worn only. Also, it is very important that these materials are comfortable.

6. You should not be nervous or stressed while exercising. Be sure to set a certain time regularly and relax for a while after exercising.

Benefits –

1. Exercise helps to maintain a balanced body weight. By exercising regularly, fat people lose weight and thin people gain weight.

2. Exercise helps keep the heart, blood vessels and respiratory organs healthy. Regular exercise has been found to reduce bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol in the blood, thus reducing the risk of heart and blood vessel diseases. Exercise helps to reduce high blood pressure and increase low blood pressure, while exercise also plays an important role in controlling diabetes.

3. Exercise plays a big role in stress management. Mental problems like anxiety, depression, fear and depression can be curbed by exercising. After exercising, the mood is refreshed, confidence and creativity increase, mental processes such as memory, rhythm, attention and concentration are strengthened. Exercising for a long time does not reduce the cognitive ability of the brain.

4. Strengthens muscles, skeleton and nervous system. Purifies the blood. Increases digestive capacity. It helps to solve problems like indigestion, indigestion, gastric acidity, constipation.

5. Exercise also helps to get rid of the kulat.

6. Exercising habit increases physical, mental and sexual ability.

7. Exercise also helps to increase resistance to cancer.

8. It helps a lot in the prevention of non-communicable diseases.

9. It is especially beneficial for those with insomnia.

10. Does not allow you to grow old quickly.

The author Yogi Narharinath is the Medical Director of Yoga and Naturopathy Hospital Bharatpur-1, Wageshwari, Devghatdham, Chitwan.

If the meatus bone is stuck in the neck, surgery may be required

During Dashain, there is a high risk of getting meat bones stuck. Eating meat in a hurry, whether drunk or at any other time, can cause bones to become stuck. Such a problem can occur in the elderly and children.