From solar energy, 100-kilowatt electricity has been generated in Hilsa, the northern border point of Nepal. Locals’ wish to light their houses for years came true with the generation of electricity from the solar mini-grid.

Birendra Thapa, District Advisor of Rural Water Resources Management Project, who is the main financial investor for the project, said that 100 KW of electricity production has begun.

"We are distributing to the consumers too after the production," he said, adding that there was an agreement with the construction company for the construction, production and distribution a year ago, however it was delayed due to the snowfall.

According to him, 100 households of Hilsa have been completely electrified now. Power problem in border security posts of the Armed Police and Nepal Police are also resolved. The government of Nepal, Namkha Rural Municipality, government of Finland and the European Union had jointly invested Rs. 40 million for the solar project.

Karma Lama, a hotel businessman here, said that the Hilsa market become bright after the electricity production. He said that the obligation of the locals to light up by lighting the solar lamps or candles in personal effort ended now.

"We the people of Hilsa marketplace were compelled to live in darkness when the Chinese were in lights previously. We were always flitting across the street to meet power supply which has been removed now," he said. He further noted after the start of electricity production from the mini-grid, the responsibility for it has been transferred to the Hilsa Solar Mini-grid Cooperative.

The cooperative will hire two employees for smooth arrangements for the distribution of power. Tariff determination will also be done by the cooperative. The same mini-grid project is producing 50kilowatt electricity in Yari which is in operation now.