Kathmandu, July 17:

Distribution of 60,000 solar tukis (small solar lamps) in the five districts of Karnali and its adjoining four districts by the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) would complete within a month, said Dr Govinda Raj Pokharel, executive director of the AEPC. The distribution of the tukis started in June and 8,000 tukis have been distributed so far.

A total of Rs 100 million of the allocated budget was freezed as some locals alleged the project was mired in huge irregularity and disrupted the distribution. However, Pokharel refuted claims of corruption.

In the budget of fiscal year 2006-07, the governement had announced that 60,000 households in nine districts will get the solar tukis under the ‘Karnali Illumination Programme’. AEPC was assigned to implement the programme, budgeted at Rs 250 million.