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The central electricity transmission line has reached Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Nepal’s only hunting reserve, for the first time. Due to its geographically remote location, the central line had not been able to reach the area until now, and local residents had been relying on micro-hydropower for electricity.

The Nepal Electricity Authority’s Baglung Distribution Center extended an 11 kV power line from Burtibang Bazaar to Dhorpatan, about 35 kilometers west, connecting the area to the national electricity grid.

According to Baglung chief Dilip Marasini of the authority, the work of installing poles and stretching the power lines had begun last year, and regular electricity transmission started from Thursday.

Marasini said that the electricity line was extended to Dhorpatan at a cost of around Rs 150 million. According to him, now that the line has reached Dhorpatan, electricity will gradually be expanded to households in the area.

“Only a few years ago, the central transmission line reached Burtibang in western Baglung. It was later extended to Adhikarichaur, and now we have brought it up to Dhorpatan,” Marasini said. “Residents who had been using limited electricity from small hydropower plants will now be able to access power from the central grid.”

Residents of the Dhorpatan area had so far been using electricity from the 40 kW Garpakhola Micro Hydropower Project and the 60 kW Dhorpatan Bhujikhola Micro Hydropower Project. However, due to insufficient electricity generation from these projects, locals had been facing problems for a long time.

According to Khim Bahadur Gharti Magar, ward chairperson of Dhorpatan Municipality–9, electricity has still not reached more than 250 households in areas of the Dhorpatan valley, including Salthan, Bijoilikholа, Chhentung, and Khaldekhulde. With the expansion of the central power line, preparations are now underway to extend electricity services to these settlements as well.

Residents of the Dhorpatan area had so far been using electricity from the 40 kW Garpakhola Micro Hydropower Project and the 60 kW Dhorpatan Bhujikhola Micro Hydropower Project. However, due to insufficient electricity generation from these projects, locals had been facing problems for a long time.

According to Khim Bahadur Gharti Magar, ward chairperson of Dhorpatan Municipality–9, electricity has still not reached more than 250 households in areas of the Dhorpatan valley, including Salthan, Bijoilikholа, Chhentung, and Khaldekhulde. With the expansion of the central power line, preparations are now underway to extend electricity services to these settlements as well.

“Many households in Dhorpatan still spend their nights using oil lamps and traditional wick lamps,” Ghartimagar said. “With the arrival of the central electricity line, we expect that problem to be resolved.”

Jeevan Pun, president of the Dhorpatan Hotel Entrepreneurs’ Association, said that operating hotel businesses had been difficult due to insufficient electricity. “Now we will be able to use equipment such as washing machines and heaters,” he said. “Since Dhorpatan experiences very cold weather, this will be a big relief for both tourists and hotel entrepreneurs.”

The authority has already extended the power line up to Chhentung, and preparations are underway to install electricity connections at the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve office, the Nepali Army barracks, and local schools.

Locals have expressed happiness after the central electricity line reached Dhorpatan for the first time. According to local resident Kul Bahadur Bik, many households had been forced to live in darkness because the small-capacity local hydropower plants could not supply electricity to all settlements.

“Most of us stay in Dhorpatan during the monsoon and move to the lower valleys in winter,” Bik said. “We had to live in darkness throughout the monsoon season, but now we hope that problem will be solved.”

Jalasarokar