Himalayan hydropower buildout: Expert says risk management is key

Home Shows Access Asia To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Cover image: ACCESS ASIA © AFP 12:51 Issued on: 04/09/2026 - 16:34 From the show Following devastating floods in Nepal and Tibet, Access Asia takes a closer look at the fragile state of the Himalayan mountains. Dr Arun Bhakta Shrestha, an expert on the environment and risk management in the Himalayas, explains why it's so difficult to detect glacier movements in advance and says that the tragedy could serve as an opportunity to improve the way nations develop infrastructure in the resource-rich region. Amid a race to build hydropower in the Himalayas, FRANCE 24's Leela Jacinto talks about how some countries are starting to weaponise water, and how geopolitical tensions in the region can constrain transparency. But first, rescue efforts continue in Nepal, with some survivors found more than a week after the disaster. The death toll has risen to over 1,200 with thousands still unaccounted for. FRANCE 24's reporters have been speaking with victims and families desperately waiting for news about their loved ones.