A power plant that was installed in Simari of Kanakpur VDC in Rautahat has been in disuse due to budget crunch.

Locals had installed the plant that uses agriculture waste as an energy source, but power generation has halted for want of adequate budget, forcing locals to live without electricity. The project was initiated to illuminate the entire village with the joint efforts of Alternative Energy Promotion Centre, District Development Committee, Village Development Office and Renewable Energy, Drinking Water and Sanitation Promotion Centre.

“All 220 households of the village were supplied with electricity, but lack of support of donor partners has deprived us of power now,” said Electricity Consumers’ Committee Chair Ram Bahadur Lama.Locals have been living in the dark for four months now.The 20 kW plant was installed at the cost of Rs 5 million.

Meanwhile, Programme Coordinator of Renewable Energy, Drinking Water, and Sanitation Promotion Centre Firoj Chaudhary said the community should be responsible for its repairs and management.