Baglung, February 3:

Some 18 micro hydro projects have been operating on a single river— Theule Khola, with the participation of the local people.

The river that originates from Paiyuthanthap village development committee (VDC) of Baglung district and flows through Sarkuwa and Kusmishera VDCs.

The river is now providing electricity to the entire area around it as locals succeeded in generating energy from it. As a result, the name of the river has been changed to ‘Urja

Khola’ (Energy River). This was revealed by Sarkuwa VDC ex-vice chairman Laxmi Paudel. He said this initiative of the locals could be used as an exemple for the entire country which happens to be rich in water resources.

According to the locals, the Rural Energy Development Programme (REDP) helped them in this venture. The idea of generating electricity gained momentum after the United National Development Promgramme (UNDP), World Bank and the government provided them economic help for the project.

Today, some 93 KW electricity is being generated from big or small projects, which is benefiting about 1,029 households.

According to officials at the Rural Energy Development Office, Baglung, about 470 households are benefited from 12 peltric sets with 40 KW of power.

People can now watch television and run their computers through electricity, said Tanka Prasad Acharya, a resident of Kusmishera. With the availability of electricity for grinding and crushing mills, furniture industry and poultry, people have been able to take up various occupations, said Balaram Thapa.

After running energy development programmes in the district, some 515 KW of power has been generated to benefit 5,288 households of various VDCs, the REPD Baglung office said.