KHOTANG: Locals of Bopung village in southern Khotang are in dark for last seven months.

As a micro hydropower project could not be repaired for lack of budget, as many as 250 households were deprived to access to electricity.

The hydel project was generating 19 kilowatt power from local Buwankhola for last two years.

But, the power generation was obstructed due to a landslide seven months ago and has been neglected ever since, according to Jaya Bahadur Rai, a local.

The landslide swept away a five-kilometre high-tension transmission line and total of 12 utility poles, informed Raj Kumar Rai, Chief of the Consumers Committee.

Locals have taken to using lamps and candles after the project was obstructed. The project was built with the joint contribution of Rs 9.5 million from the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre, the District Development Committee, the Village Development Committee and contributed labour from the locals.