Jagannath locals elated as electricity service resumes after repair works

By Sher Bahadur Sarki,Bajura, June 10: Jagannath is one of the rural municipalities of the remote district of Bajura. It was only a decade ago that the villagers were supplied electricity through the Bhunwakhola Hydropower Project.

The 100-KW-capacity hydropower project provided electricity to more than a thousand households in the rural municipality. 

However, the incessant rain in the first week of October 2022 damaged the canals of the hydropower depriving the villages of power supply once again.

"When there was no electricity to light the houses at night, people used traditional items such as kerosene lamps to complete the household chores. However, the development sectors, such as education, health and agriculture, were affected even in broad daylight," said Kali Bahadur Shahi, chairman of Jagannath Rural Municipality.

Gauri Sarki, ward chairman of Ward No. 5 of Jagannath, informed that the local level had to struggle hard to manage funds to repair the damaged canals and bring the hydropower back into operation.

"Along with the canal, the machinery of the hydropower also suffered damages. We received Rs. 5 million from the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) and Rs. 2 million from the Sudurpashchim government to resume the hydropower operation," said Sarki.

After waiting for eight months with a fear of returning to the dark days before the construction of the hydropower, locals of Jagannath are now happy as they can utilise the electricity 22 hours a day after the repairment.

"The electricity service resumed from June 5," said Shahi, chairman of Jagannath.