National power grid reaches Gosaikunda

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Aug. 19: For the first time, electricity of the national transmission grid has reached Gosaikunda, a famous pilgrimage site in Rasuwa. 

The Nepal Electricity Authority started to supply electricity from the national grid to Gosaikunda, which is 4,380 metres above sea level, on Friday. 

Gosaikunda area has begun shimmering after the reach of electricity.

On the eve of the Janaipurnima festival, the electricity of the national transmission line was supplied to Gosaikunda, a religious and tourist destination. 

Until now, tourism businessmen of Gosaikunda area and some places on the footpath leading to it were using electricity from solar energy.

Managing Director of NEA Kul Man Ghising said that electricity from the national grid was supplied to Gosaikunda as part of the campaign to light up the religious and tourist areas. 

Ghising said, "When I started working in the Authority, I had supplied electricity to Swargadwari a religious and tourist site in Pyuthan; now we are in the final journey to complete electrification under the campaign to fully illuminate the country, Susta, Gosaikunda, Annapurna base camp, Upper Mustang, monasteries, temples in various places. We are supplying electricity from the national grid to religious, touristic and historical areas."

The national grid had already reached Chandanbari on the way from Rasuwa's headquarters to Gosaikunda. About 8 km from Chandanbari, 11 kV line has been taken to Gosaikund via Langtang National Park area. 

For this, 200 poles have been set up in coordination with the national park. Poles, transformers and other equipment were transported by men and mules.

A distribution transformer of 15 kVA capacity has been installed for power supply in Gosaikunda, said the NEA. 

As soon as the weather improves after the rainy season, a 50 kV transformer will be installed. 

Sanjiv Bhattarai, chief of Dhunche distribution centre, NEA, said that power supply was provided by keeping transformers of 15 kVA capacity each in Buddha Mandir and Gosaikunda as they could not transport higher capacity transformers due to rains.

Bhattarai said that 50-50 kVA distribution transformers would be installed at Jolangpati, Lauribina and Buddha Mandir on the way to Gosaikunda. Some hotels are operating in Jolangpati and Lauribina. 

A contract was signed in October last year to supply electricity to Gosaikunda. The estimated cost of the work is around Rs. 30 million.