N.Rs. 25 million Indian assistance for Solar electrification for two villages in Gulmi and Panchathar

Two villages in Gulmi District and Panchathar District have started getting electricity using one of the most modern and environmentally clean source of electricity under cooperation from the Indian Government. Under the
scheme, 296 homes in village Bhadgaon Arkhale (Ward No. 8 & 9) in Gulmi District and 135 homes in Sarang Danda village (Ward No. 8) in Panchathar have started receiving home lighting system using solar electrification from 20th June, 2002. Each of these homes will receive home lighting system of 75 Watt, consisting of 4 lighting instruments of 12 Watt each, a panel and a maintenance free battery.

Solar electrification based on solar photovoltaic panels has been provided under grant assistance from the Government of India. The total cost of solar electrification of these two villages is N.Rs. 25 million. Approximately 3500 people in Bhadgaon Arkhale and 2500 people in Sarang Danda will benefit from this programme. This was a pilot project and its successful execution in a short period of eight months has given an
impetus for similar such projects in future.

The project has been executed by Central Electronics Ltd., Ghaziabad, a Public Sector Undertaking of Government of India, in close coordination with Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC)/Energy Sector assistance Programme (ESAP) who were involved in all stages of project execution.

In the execution of this project, the Gaon Upbhokta Samiti (Village Consumer Committee) was specifically constituted and involved in all stages of execution, planning and installation. For subsequent maintenance and
upkeep of these systems, a pool of six trained personnel from amongst the villaers 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 contribution, 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 Gaon Upbhokta Samiti constituted to oversee this project.

The project was formally inaugurated and handed over to the Gaon Upbhokta Samiti in Village Bhadgaon Arkhale, Distt. Gulmi on 20th June, 2002 with great fanfare and enthusiasm of the people of the village. Senior
local officials of His Majesty’s Government of Nepal were also present on that
occasion.