Jumla, Jan 3: Two hundred and fifty kilowatts of electricity has been produced at Patarasi Rural Municipality in the district, providing free electricity to 3,400 houses of approximately 27 settlements. Following the completion of 15 hydropower projects, the rural municipality has been self-reliant on power, said Chair of Patarasi Rural Municipality, Lachhiman Bohora. Of the 15 projects, 250 kilowatts power has been generated from 11 projects.

The completed hydropower projects are Biureni (58 kilowatts), Lum (25 kilowatts), Talfi (25 kilowatts), Tribeni (45 kilowatts), Upper Lorpa (25 kilowatts), Rini (9 kilowatts), while 12 kilowatts project in Patamara, five kilowatts project in Tali Lorpa, nine kilowatts project in Lamri and six kilowatts project in Mahari.

Preparations are underway to declare the rural municipality, first to be self-reliant on electricity in the district, said Tek Bahadur Budhthapa, Chief Administrative Officer at the rural municipality. The drive to illuminate entire settlements of the rural municipality has been implemented in three years, said Chair Bohora.

With this, the compulsion of local people to use alternative means to electricity like kerosene lamps has been removed, he said. Arrangement has been made to provide free electricity to the beneficiaries, said Vice Chair of the rural municipality, Punnakali Mahatara, adding that expenditures on salaries to the employees at the electricity house and machine repair would be borne.