VILLAGE IN DHADING DISTRICT LIT UP BY SOLAR ENERGY WITH INDIAN ASSISTANCE OF NRS.16 MILLION

Ambassador of India, H.E. Mr. Shiv Shankar Mukherjee today inaugurated Solar Electrification Project in Katunje-2 village of Dhading District, and formally handed over the project to the Gaon Upbhokta Samiti of the village. Senior local officials of His Majesty’s Government of Nepal and community leaders were present on the occasion.

The Nrs.16 million project is executed by the Central Electronics Limited, a public sector undertaking of the Indian Government, in partnership with the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (APEC), under the Ministry of Science and Technology of HMGN. The project, costing Nrs.16 million, involves the provision of a solar panel, a maintenance free battery and a home lighting system of 75 watts. As a result of the project, 300 homes and approximately 2000 people in Katunje-2 village have started receiving electricity using solar energy – a modern and environmentally clean source of electricity.

As of now, 10 solar electrification projects worth a total of Nepali Rupees 160.7 million have been executed by India successfully in various districts which earlier did not have the benefit of electric power.

Like other Indo-Nepal Development Cooperation Projects which focus on education, health and infrastructure, these electrification projects also involve the community in all the stages of planning, implementation and maintenance. A pool of 6 to 8 villagers are trained by a technician from the Central Electronics Limited and the community itself provides contributions to create a fund, which is invested in local banks, with the interest being used for maintenance.