Installation of solar-powered streetlights in rural communities like Chhoekhorling village in Pema Gatshel has brought cheers to the people there. Otherwise, they limited their mobility at night fearing snake and dog bites.
With 90 households, Chhoekhorling village is one of the most clustered settlements in Chhoekhorling Gewog. Though the village has good community vitality, villagers avoided visiting each other’s homes at night, not even to attend an urgent matter.
This is because they were wary of snake or dog bites. However, with the illumination of solar streetlights in and around the village about a week ago, these safety issues were put to rest.
“In the past, residents threw waste everywhere at night and this led to arguments with our neighbours. Now these streetlights will help us trace the offender and hope to manage wastes properly,” said Kezang Tashi, the Tshogpa of Chhoekhorling-Gazawung chiwog in Chhoekhorling Gewog.
Villagers agree with his viewpoints.
“Earlier, we couldn’t send our children to play in the dark. Now as the footpaths have been lightened up with streetlights, we can move without hesitation of safety issues,” said one of the villagers, Zepa Thinley.
“We have suffered from snakes and dog bites while travelling within the village at night. But henceforth, these streetlights will help us remain guarded against snakes or dogs,” added another villager, Khordhey Choezang.
Villagers say the streetlight service was initiated by the Labour Minister, who represents their constituency in the parliament. It was one of the minister’s pledges during the bye-election last year.
More than 70 solar streetlights were erected alongside the footpaths in the village. Eight others were installed outside the two Lhakhangs in the village.
“We are planning to install similar streetlights in other chiwogs in the gewog. It is clean and affordable energy. If they were electric streetlights, villagers will not be able to pay bills,” pointed out Kinzang Rabten, Chhoekhorling Gup.
According to international experts, solar energy is said to be affordable and sustainable. Therefore, villagers are hopeful of empowering their lives through solar energy in the future.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Pema Lhaden
