Dev Das Shrestha

Dolakha, February 19

Locals of Bulung VDCs 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 seven have succeeded in producing 15-KW electricity and improve their lot.

Locals received Rs 0.56 million grant from Rural Energy Development Programme (REDP), Rs 0.59 million grant and investment from District Development Committee of Dolakha, Rs 0.225 million from Bulung VDC, Rs 0.2 million loan from Agriculture Development Bank, Rs 50,000 in local donations and Rs 0.555 million worth of local labour for the completion of the Orang River Second Micro Hydel project. The project is situated at Bulung VDC-7, Maldung, and the 15-KW electricity produced has directly facilitated 820 people of 157 households, informed Shailendra Budha, energy development executive.

Ambika Prasad Dahal, 58, not only worked for 32 days continuously but also agreed to put his land as a security bond with bank to bring light to his village.

He said that 13 other villagers have put up their land registry papers as security deposits

with the bank for helping get the loan and help in the electrification project.

He added, "We spent our lives lighting kerosene lamps but want to give a brighter future to our children and grandchildren. Electricity would help us get rid of unwanted smoke and bring us near the modern world. With this hope, I alongwith hundreds of other people worked hard to arrive here."

"We used to feel very low when we saw our neighbouring villages brighten with lights and now, after hard work, we have been able to see the same in our own village," said 65-year-old Purna Kumari Thapa.

Meanwhile, REDP has established a mobile fund of Rs 0.15 million for the maximum usage of the electricity produced in the district. This project is the third one that has been completed with the help of REDP. Previously, 10-KW electricity had been produced from Orang River First Micro Hydel Project and 13-KW from Bulung Khani Peltrick Set and the electricity has been distributed to 160 households.

After electricity distribution from the second micro hydel project, 66 per cent of the total households, i.e., 317 households, have been helped.

Naresh Prasad Dhakal, local development officer, said that the district development committee has been working for the maximum use of natural water sources in the district after the start of REDP.

He added, "REDP has not only helped in the electrification of the village, but has opened doors for modern information technology. With the arrival of electricity, the village would be able to see television, video, computer as well as run grinding mills, furniture factories, photo studios, noodle industries, etc."

Community mobilisation is the only way to help improve the living standard of rural people and with its help, plans should be made and implemented, said Ram Prasad Uprety, president of Dolakha DDC. The programme is currently running in Suri, Khopachagu, Lapilang, Syama and Chilankhya VDCs of northern Dolakha and Bhusapheda VDC of western Dolakha.

Uptill now, seven micro hydel projects, two peltrick-set generated energy and solar energy plans have already been completed in the district, facilitating more than 300 households. Around 7,000 villagers have been directly helped by electrification projects and 31 biogas plants as well as 1,008 improved stoves have also been constructed in the village.