Electricity from Chukeni brightens Jumla district headquarters

By Our Correspondent,Jumla, Jan. 24: Jumla's district headquarters, Khalanga, which once struggled with a lack of electricity, is now shining brightly. 

Around one megawatt of electricity generated locally from the Chukeni Khola in Patarasi Rural Municipality has lit up Khalanga and its surrounding areas.

The Chukeni Khola Hydropower Project, built in Patarasi Rural Municipality-1, has brought light not only to the district headquarters but also to nearby market areas in Jumla. 

The project was completed with financial support from the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC), the Asian Development Bank, local rural municipality contributions, loans from the Agriculture Development Bank and technical support from the Renewable Energy Programme under the United Nations Development Programme's Rural Livelihoods initiative.

As a result, households in areas like Lasi, Talphi, Chaur and Urthu, as well as the Khalanga, now enjoy quality electricity services. A total of 3,300 residents of Patarasi Rural Municipality have invested as shareholders in the project.With a round-the-clock electricity supply, Jumla's markets are glowing and residents are delighted. In the biting cold of Jumla, government offices and homes now use electric appliances for heating water and providing warmth.

Prithvi Bahadur Shahi, Cluster Coordinator of the Renewable Energy Programme under AEPC, confirmed that electricity from the Chukeni Khola project has ensured an uninterrupted power supply in Jumla. 

According to him, the Chukeni Khola Hydropower Cooperative began supplying electricity to the Jumla market area with 180 kilowatts on May 1, 2024, after signing an agreement with the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

The electricity supply has since expanded, supplying power to schools, health posts, hotels, small industries and business stores in the region. This has made it easier to establish new industries and businesses reliant on electricity. Shahi added that the Chukeni Khola currently generates up to 900 kilowatts during peak times.