Nine micro hydro power projects closed

PARBAT:

Nine of the 11 micro hydro power projects in Parbat have faced the axe in the past few years for want of timely repairs.

Earlier, the 11 project generated 156.5 kw power and cater to as many as 1,400 households in different parts of the district. But with most of the projects in disrepair, the households have plunged into darkness once again.

District Energy Office chief Manju Shilpakar conceded that most of the power projects have faced the axe due to the lack of fund for repairs. “As we’re also short of budget, the projects had no option but to shutdown,” she said, adding that the state has been apathetic towards micro-projects after the central transmission line reached remote villages.

“Why do we need the central transmission line if we have to face over 16 hours load shedding every day?” asked a local, urging the government to allocate fund to repair the micro projects. “At least when those projects were running, we didn’t have to face load shedding,” he added.

Shilpakar said the 12 KW Aguwakhola and Gedikhola projects, 16 KW Dhuwakot and Ghattekhola projects, 27 KW Bhuktangle have stopped operation due to lack of timely repair.

Source: THT