Half the population in Dadeldhura deprived of electricity

Dadeldhura, January 9

About half of the total population in Dhadeldhura has lived in darkness for years with Nepal Electricity Authority failing to supply electricity in the district for want of electric poles.

Harilal Parki, a resident of Kaini, Amargadi Municipality -7, submitted an application with the authority seeking electric poles four years ago. However, the complaint has yet to be attended to. He said that his application had not been forwarded to the concerned department yet.

“Political leaders had assured me about supplying the poles during elections but they have vanished after polls,” said Parki.

Likewise, more than 50 households at Sirad of Bhageshwor Rural Municipality have been awaiting electricity poles for the past two weeks. “Our frequent visits to the office concerned have been in vain,” said Junga Bahadur Thapa Magar, chairperson of Laligurans Group.

Magar said the settlement in the lower-hills of the locality were enjoying electricity, but locals of the upper hills were deprived of the facility. He said they only received assurances from leaders during election time.

Meanwhile, Nepal Electricity Authority Dadeldhura Distribution Centre Chief Ishwor Kumar Shrestha said they could not distribute the poles as per the demand due to budget crunch.

“Cable and pole distribution in rural areas, as per the government’s rural illumination plan, has been further delayed,” he said.

As per the census of 2011, of the total 27,045 households in the district, only 14,843 households have access to electricity.