BAJURA, March 26 - More than 1600 households of four VDCs in Bajura district now receive electricity thanks to the micro hydro power projects being run by District Energy and Environment Department and Rural Area Development Committee with locals’ partnership.

It has been a long time coming for the villagers of Manakot, Pandusen, Kotila and Barhabise to finally have their dream of lighting electric bulbs and upgrading their lives from good-old radios to televisions. The much-anticipated and ambitious projects endured many obstructions; among them– a major one — is the Maoist insurgency that lasted for nearly over a decade.

We were having a double whammy situation then, Prasad Regmi of District Energy and Environment Development says, “Security personnel used to accuse us of supplying electric cables to the Maoists to make explosive devices and design electric ambushes while the Maoists tried to rob us of our cables that we brought for our project.” 

The four projects that cost over Rs 10 million have a combined capacity of generating 117 KW power.

“Our labor and the aid provided by the donors did not go in vain. This is a proud moment for us all, despite the challenges we finally achieved what we strived for,” said Praksh Singh, a local at Barhabise VDC.

A lot has changed in these four VDCs ever since they received electricity. For instance, with the arrival of electricity, three schools based at Pandusen and Barhabise have bought computers to carry out administrative works. Other schools are planning to purchase one themselves.

With the success of these four projects, District Energy and Environment Development Department and Rural Area Development Committee are encouraged to begin similar projects in other parts of Bajura district as well. They are already engaged in the development of 10 similar micro hydro projects in Bajura with the financial assistance from Local Development Fund.

“Most of the projects have already reached near to completion. They will soon power other darker villages,” Regmi says proudly.

By ARJUN SHAH