KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development has allocated budget to various municipalities across the country to install around 50,000 solar street lights in the current fiscal year.

The installation would take place on the people's participation approach.

The Ministry has so far allocated Rs 500 million to 143 municipalities across the countries to equip the streets with solar-powered lamps.

Though the Ministry had earlier called for a proposal for the installation of solar lights from 217 municipalities, only 143 submitted the proposals to the Ministry, expressing their willingness to place solar lamps in their localities.

According to the Ministry's Under-Secretary Narhari Sharma Bhandari, 143 municipalities have been provided grants to install a total of 45,308 solar lamps in the streets of the respective municipal areas.

Of the total installation cost, the respective municipalities would invest 20 per cent and the 15 per cent cost would be borne by the local consumers' committees.

Streets covering a stretch of around 1,100 kilometres would be illuminated with the solar-powered lamps with the installation of new 45,308 solar lights in the current fiscal year.