Local residents of the geographically backward and remote Kuinekhani have constructed the 20-KW Majuwa Kuinekhani Micro Hydropower Project to light up their village.

The project — constructed at the cost of Rs 10.9 million — has so far benefitted 119 households of wards 1, 2 and 3 of the then Kuinemangale VDC, shared micro hydropower project Chairperson Cha Bahadur Chhantyal.

Before the generation of electricity, the locals of Kuinekhani had to rely on solar and oil lamps for light. With the construction of the micro hydropower plant, it has become easier for them to light up their houses, for the students to study, to carry out other household works, to operate radio and TV, and to charge their mobile phones.

With the use of newly generated electricity, a mill for the purpose of grinding grains and other produce has also come into operation in their locality, shared ward member Kha Bahadur Chhantyal.

The Regional Support Unit - Dhaulagiri Community Resource Development Centre (DCRDC), Baglung - of the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre had provided grant assistance of Rs 3.9 million for the project, and the then Kuinemangale VDC aided the project construction with Rs 1 million.

Likewise, each user household had donated their services for 130 days along with cash of Rs 2,500. The users had made a total investment worth Rs 6 million for this project, shared Chairperson Chhantyal.

(with inputs from Rastriya Samachar Samiti)