National 9 (Spotlight Weekly)

Rural Assistance

India extends assistance for solar electrification in Nepalese villages

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

In absence of hydro electricity projects, people of many rural villages in Nepal live a miserable life. The development of alternative energy like solar power has been proven as a viable and economical venture to these people.

The Indian government has given assistance to villages in districts of Baglung, Dhading and Sarlahi. According to press statement by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, the Indian government has provided assistance worth Rs 53.86 million under the government of India's grant-in-aid program.

Due to this assistance villages like Semjong in Dhading, Arjewa in Baglung and Parsa and Laghuwa-Krishnapur in Sarlahi have been electrified. "Under the scheme, nearly 1500 homes in these villages have started receiving light using solar electrification. Each of these homes have received a solar panel, a maintenance free battery and home lighting system of 75 Watts consisting of 4 lighting instruments. Approximately 17000 people have benefited from this program. The projects were executed by the Central Electronics Ltd., Ghaziabad, a Government of India Undertaking, in close coordination with the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) under the Ministry of Science & Technology of HMGN," states the press release.

To effectively carry out the execution of these projects, the participation of local villagers through Users' Committee has Been ensured. "For maintenance of these systems, a pool of six to eight trained personnel has been created in each village, by imparting training to them by a technician from Central Electronics Ltd. In addition, a corpus has been created by local contributions, which has been invested in the local banks, and its interest will be utilized for subsequent maintenance of the system. Management of the corpus fund will be the responsibility of the Users' Committee."

These projects were formally inaugurated and handed over by Indian Ambassador Shyam Saran to the Village Users' Committees.

"This has been the second year in running when Indian assisted solar electrification projects have been successfully executed. Last year, similar solar electrification projects with total outlay of NRs 25 million, were executed in two villages in District Gulmi and District Panchthar. This has given an impetus for such projects in the future."

Likewise, solar electrification projects carried out at the assistance of Rs 13.9 million from the Indian government has benefited over 4500 people in Arjewa village in Baglung district.