Some 1,800 households at Salleri and its adjoining settlements in Solukhumbu have been without power since 12 days with the Salleri Chyalsa Hydropower Company terminating its service completely.
Earlier, the company had published the maintenance schedule (from May 12 to May 19) of the hydropower plant, but repairs and cleaning works have not been completed yet.
According company deputy general manager Rameshwor Maskey, the works were delayed due to adverse weather. He said the power supply would probably resumed from Thursday afternoon if weather favored.
The 600-KW hydroelectric project provides electricity to Garma, Khoriya, Phaplu and Junbesi besides Salleri, the district headquarters. Normal life has been affected due to disruption of power supply.
Local teacher Bhoj Kumar Adhikari said the disruption of electricity supply for many days was not expected. They had made provisional arrangements for alternative source of energy only for some days, but the things went differently, causing inconvenience to people.
The termination of power operations for many days have its effect on students appearing the grade 11 board exams. Sangita Karki, one among them, said students from village like her who are facing the board exam by temporarily staying in Salleri are not used to life and do not know about reliable alternatives during power outage.
They have chargeable lamps, but they don’t work for long hours. Besides, they have to pay Rs 30 per mobile to get it charged. The photocopy charge for per copy has been doubled as service seekers are paying Rs 10 for per copy.
Telephone, and internet services have been impaired. Programs schedules of the district-based FM radio stations have been affected. Transactions of micro finances have been hampered in absence of electricity and impaired internet services.
Swadeshi Microfinance branch chief Prem Bahadur Basnet said that they are constrained to use generator paying high price. Some of the district-based government offices have taken help of generators to continue their services while service seekers are returning empty-handed from some office. Homa Kumari Bhujel who visited the District Survey Office is one of them.
