Balaram-Tara Energy Block (28 A) Inaugurated at Kathmandu University

Published Date: 2023-01-31, Tuesday

Image

On 31 January 2023, Balaram-Tara Pradhan Energy Block (28 A) was inaugurated by the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Honorable Mr. Bishnu Prasad Poudel. The Balaram-Tara Pradhan Energy is an initiative by Kathmandu University to consolidate its energy labs and would house all the major energy labs at the university, namely, Energy Systems and Technology Research Lab, Green Hydrogen Lab and labs of Mechanical Engineering. The new lab would enable the usage of cutting edge technologies to further the energy research at the university.

The Chief Guest for the event, The Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mr. Bishnu Prasad Poudel, in his remarks shed light on the contribution of Late Mr. Balaram Pradhan towards the furthering of the hydro energy sector and his associations with different organizations. He shared his hope that the energy block established would immortalize the name of the late Mr. Balaram Pradhan and contribute to the development of the energy sector of the country, namely through research in hydrogen energy. He highlighted the difficulties the government is experiencing with revenue mobilization and the fact that it has failed to reach the revenue goals it had set, which is far less than the amount collected in the previous fiscal year. Despite the revenue challenges, he shared his commitment to provide necessary funds and infrastructure support to KU for its research projects through the annual budget.

In the event, Prof. Dr. Manish Pokharel, Dean, gave a brief summary of the energy block and how Kathmandu University would use it. He also provided information on the building's cost, completion date, and other donors' financial contributions. Mrs. Tara Pradhan, the donor, who contributed Rs. 45 lakhs to the establishment of the building, shared her insights on how the idea of establishing the building in memory of her late husband germinated and how the support from her family and Kathmandu University helped materialize the establishment of the block. A brief insight about the life of the Late Mr. Balaram Pradhan was shared by Mr. Dhiraaj Pradhan and Dr. Taralal Shrestha.

The Vice Chancellor of KU Prof. Dr. Bhola Thapa spoke about the contributions made by the late Mr. Balaram Pradhan to the university as well as to Nepal's hydroelectricity industry. He also discussed the university's efforts in energy research and he called for government assistance in funding the research projects and infrastructure development activities.

Prof. Dr. Achyut Prasad Wagle, Registrar, KU, gave the closing remarks during the event, in which he thanked the donors for their generous contributions and also took time to recall the contributions of the late Mr. Balaram Pradhan to the nation's hydro energy sector. He asked for the generosity of the government towards Kathmandu University and its support in the university’s initiatives by expediting the university’s pending activities at the ministries.


Category: News
Last Updated Date: 2023-01-31,Tuesday
Published By: Kathmandu University