Syangja, May 31:

Despite the country having to face a daily load shedding of eight to nine hours, the Rural Hydro Power Project in Setidobhan of Syangja remained neglected for the past 12 years.

Machinery of the Seti Khola Hydropower Centre has been converted into ruins in the absence of maintenance and repair. Many types of equipment are reported to have been stolen.

The centre that had a capacity to produce 80 KW of power in both the dry and rainy season remains closed ever since the Andhikhola Hydropower Project became operational under the Butwal Power Company.

The centre is operated under the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) but NEA has given it no attention to resume power production here.

Local residents here have also accused the NEA of not showing any concern when the community service centre made an effort to repair and operate the plant.

The centre’s coordination committee has also written to the Community Power Users’ Federation asking for authority to run the power centre closed for the past 12 years, said Narayan Prasad Poudel, the committee chairperson.

The government has been ignoring small projects like this as bigger projects involve big

games of commission, accused Poudel. Local residents here however feel that they would not have to face any load shedding if the committee was given the authority to run the centre.