The operation of Adalikhola Hydropower Project with 42 KW capacity has changed the lives of the locals of several villages in Guthichaur Rural Municipality in Jumla, a remote district of Karnali Province.

Fifty-five-year-old Khulamu Aidi from Gadigaun says the supply of electricity to her village has made life easier for the residents. “We had to light oil lamps at night to be able to move around. Not all families were able to afford to light their homes with solar power,” she said. “The hydropower plant has come as a boon for the villagers.”

“These days villages are bustling with activities even after sunset. Kitchens have become smoke-free with options to use electric appliances,” said Aidi. “Life before electricity was hard and most of us suffered from eye problems caused by years of squinting in the dark under dim oil lamps.” According to her, they had to walk for an hour to the nearest market centre to charge their mobile phones but now they can do so in the comfort of their own homes.

The hydropower project has been constructed with Rs10.1 million provided by the Guthichaur Rural Municipality. The construction of the project commenced in the fiscal year 2017-18 and was completed around four months ago.

“The rural municipality decided to construct the Adalikhola Hydropower Project as the local people of Ward No 1 were deprived of electricity. The villagers are now happy as they get electricity supply,” said Hari Bahadur Bhandari, chairman of the rural municipality.

There are five wards in Guthichaur Rural Municipality. Electricity generated by some micro-hydropower projects was already supplied to the people of four other wards in the local unit.

The connectivity to electricity has also opened new avenues for communication with one’s relatives living abroad. “We can now make video calls and talk to our relatives.”

Electricity has also ensured a conducive environment for children to study, says Aidi. “Our children no longer have to study in the dark. They come home and sit down to study without worrying about the dark.”

Gadhigaun, Napani, Munigaun and Dillikot villages are benefiting from the Adalikhola Hydro Project. According to Harish Chandra Giri, ward secretary of Ward No 1 of Guthichaur Rural Municipality, electricity is supplied to individual homes from 5am to 8am and from 5pm to 11pm daily. “In Ward No 1, altogether 360 households are connected to electricity. Some youths are trying to start businesses in the villages themselves since electricity has made it possible for them to be connected to technology.”

Bhandari says the local unit has prioritised rural electrification during its annual budget plan. “Some houses are yet to be connected with electricity supply in the remote and least developed areas,” he said. “Hopefully electricity will reach each and every household in the rural municipality within a month.”