Kathmandu, Jan 02: India will provide a grant of Rs 33.75 million to Nepal for rural electrification in the Himalayan kingdom through solar photo-voltaic cell technology. An agreement to this effect was signed on December 31 between the Indian embassy and Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) under the ministry of science and technology of Nepal, according to an Indian embassy press release here.
Under this project, four villages of Nepal will be electrified in the year 2002-03. These villages are Parsa and Laghuwa Krishnapur of Sarlahi district, Arjewa of Baglung district and Sejong of Dhading district. Over 15,000 people and 1,400 homes will be benefited from this aid.
Community centers, village development offices, schools, dispensaries and public spaces will also be lighted in these villages by using one of the most modern and environment-friendly technology.
Each selected home in these villages will receive a home lighting system of 75 watts consisting of four lighting instruments, a solar photo-voltaic cell panel and a maintenance-free battery.
Besides, street lighting will also be made available in these villages and 150 solar lanterns will be distributed to those houses where electrification cannot take place.
The project will be executed by Central Electronics Ltd. (CEL), Ghaziabad, a public sector undertaking of government of India in association with AEPC.
In the year 2001-2002 India had provided Rs 15.625 million grant for executing similar electrification project in two villages of Nepal. Bureau Report