Every home, irrespective of remoteness, in Tsirang district, will now be lit with consistent power supply. The last three villages of Pungtenchhu Gewog in the district were connected to the national electricity grid last Monday. And this brings an end to the dependence on unreliable solar energy that locals there have been relying on for years.
More than a hundred people of Dodamchhen, Gentaykha and Jeligang in Tongshinggang chiwog will see an improved lifestyle.
Until 30th November, they have been depending on solar energy which in turn depends on the availability of sunlight to light their homes and charge mobile phones.
“It feels so good to have our homes lit bright with electricity. We are grateful to His Majesty The King and His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo,” said Man Bir Subba, from Tongshinggang under Pungtenchhu Gewog in Tsirang.
“Our life will become better now. Earlier, collecting firewood was a challenge for us. We feel blessed to be living in an illuminated community now,” added Lachi Maya Rai also from Tongshinggang.
Pungtenchhu Gewog Administration prioritized connecting the gewog to the national electricity grid in the current plan. Tongshinggang chiwog with scattered settlements is around two hour’s drive from the gewog centre.
“These three villages could not get power supply until today due to remoteness of the villages. We regretted for not able to provide power supply to the villagers when the rest of the villages in the gewog received. The power supply will improve the livelihoods of the villagers immensely,” said Shiva Lal Karaiya, the Pungtenchhu Gup.
Bhutan Power Corporation (BPC) began the works to electrify 32 households in the villages from October last year. The power officials also briefed the households on safety measures.
“From today onwards as we switch to grid power supply there is 100 per cent electrification to all the villages at every nook and corner of Tsirang Dzongkhag. During the summer season, if trees happen to fall there may be power line problem but otherwise, there won’t be as such power reliability issue. To cater services to our customers we have friends stationed in each gewogs, they will cater services,” said Dili Ram Adhikari, the Sr. Division Manager at BPC in Tsirang.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency or JICA financed the electrification project.
Pema Tshewang
