India Environment Portal Knowledge for change

About us Contact us
downtoearth-subscribe

Browse by subjects

Micro March

  • 29/11/2000

Residents convene a village meeting. The proposal is approved.

In another meeting, the users are identified. They form the users' group that becomes the nodal body in implementing the project.

The users' group select a working committee that looks after the day-to-day operation of the project.

Site selection is done with representatives of turbine manufacturers. The users' group check out the resources available in the village. The decision to go for loan from the Agricultural Development Bank of Nepal (ADB) is taken. In an ideal situation, users contribute around 30-40 per cent of the cost.

In another meeting, users decide on the amount of electricity to be generated. It also decides on the tariff. The tariff is decided according to the bulbs used. On an average, one bulb used per month costs Nepalese Rs 25.

Work starts on the project, the users' group fix volunteer participation from each user. The working committee looks after the construction

Transmission starts, for each transmission pole, the users' group gets subsidy from the government through the ADB depending on the remoteness of the village. It is around Nepalese Rs 7,500 per pole. Some residents are trained to operate the generator.

A mechanism of tariff payment is worked out by the users' group. Penalty payment in case of default is also fixed by the users' group. The working committee looks after the repayment of the loan.

Electricity use during the day is allowed only for commercial purposes like cottage industries.

For commercial use, the users' group decide on the tariff, which is usually double the domestic tariff.

Tail end water from the powerhouse is diverted for fisheries and irrigation. Villagers using water give a community-decided fee to the users' group. This money is used for the maintenance of the powerhouse.

Related Content