Electricity in 90 per cent of households

The government's plan to provide electricity to all Nepalis within the next two years is moving towards completion. According to the Nepal Electricity Authority, electricity service has not reached four districts of Karnali. Work is being done in those districts with the aim of providing electricity from the central transmission line soon.

According to the latest statistics of NEA, out of 753 local levels, 471 have got 90 to 100 percent electricity reach. Similarly, 65 to 90 percent of electrification has been done at 113 local levels. Forty-five local level electricity is available at an average of 35 to 65 percent, 63 local levels at 5 to 35, and 61 local levels at just five percent. Energy availability is also one of the areas identified by the Sustainable Development Goals. The current government aims to provide energy access to all.

The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has provided all kinds of tools and resources for fulfilling that goal.

According to Energy Minister Pampha Bhusal, the aim is to provide quality and reliable service in the areas where electricity is available and to provide it even if we are working day and night in the areas where electricity is not available. Minister Bhusal is also the Chairman of the NEA Steering Committee.

According to NEA, out of 6,218,395 households in the country, electricity has reached 89.70 percent of them including 86.95% in Province No. 1, 99.66% in Province No. 2, 95.91% in Bagmati, 95.68% in Gandaki, 94.91% in Lumbini, 43.87% in Karnali and 71.07% in the Far West.

Based on these details, Province No. 2 seems to have achieved a lot of success, while Karnali still has to go a long way. NEA has provided electricity through transmission lines of 11 and 33 KV capacity in most places. It is working with the aim of increasing the capacity of these transmission lines and keeping the transformers in additional capacity. This will provide quality and reliable electricity.

Out of 14 districts in Province No. 1, only 6 of households in Solukhumbu have electricity. Electricity has reached 98.91% in Jhapa, 98.02% in Morang, 99.62% in Sunsari, and 97.65% in Dhankuta. The condition of Okhaldhunga of Province No. 1 looks weak with only 46.06% of households having electricity. Work is underway to connect 1,341 transformers to provide additional electricity.

According to NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising, all 8 districts of Province No. 2 have reached the stage of 100% electrification. This is a great success for NEA. Out of the total 1 million 89 thousand 874 households, 99.66% have access to electricity. An additional budget of Rs. 4 billion has been made available for the electricity system's improvement in the state.

According to Executive Director Ghising, NEA has been working to provide reliable electricity to the citizens as per the target. Similarly, 95.91% of the total 1.5 million three thousand 278 households in 13 districts of Bagmati have been provided electricity. Lalitpur has 99.88% electrification while two districts of Kathmandu Valley and Nuwakot, which is the federal capital, have 100% electricity access. In Sindhuli 69.51%, in Makwanpur 89.19%, in Dhading 91.13%, and in Chitwan 92.22% electrification has been done. In Ramechhap 99.29%, in Dolakha 99.52%, and in Rasuwa 96.49% of households have access to electricity.

According to NEA, it is still necessary to work hard to supply electricity to Fikal and Hariharpur gadhi of Sindhuli. NEA needs to work effectively to provide electricity in Khanikhola and Mahabharat of Kavrepalanchok. It seems it will take some more time for electrification in the Ruby Valley village municipality of Dhading.

According to the latest statistics of NEA, electricity has reached 95.68% of the total 612,658 households in Gandaki. Syangja and Parbat have 100% access. Electricity has reached 67.68% in Manang, 88.40% in Nawalpur, and 92.35% in Myagdi. Electricity has not yet reached Chumunumri in Gorkha and only 15.18% access it in Dharche. Manang's Nurfu is in darkness, and more work is needed to provide electricity to households in Bulingtarma of Nawalpur.

Out of 1 million 19 thousand 703 households in 12 districts of Lumbini province, electricity has reached 94.91% of all households. In Rukum East alone, electricity has been made available to just 19.25% of households. While electricity has reached 62.17 houses in Rolpa, more than 90% of other districts have electricity access. The government and the authority still need to invest in Nisdi of Palpa, Gangadev of Rolpa, Parivartan and Thawang, Putha Uttarganga of East Rukum and Bhume.

Out of the total 347,936 households in Karnali, only 43.87% have electricity so far. Electrification is limited to 75.02% in West Rukum, 52.88% in Salyan, 19.64% in Mugu, 16.15% in Jajarkot and 19.30% in Jumla. According to the report, three localities in Surkhet, three in Dailekh, four in Jajarkot, six in Dolpa, five in Jumla, one in Kalikot, three in Mugu, and four in Humla have not been able to get electricity.

Of the 547,671 households in the nine districts of the far-western region, 71.07% have so far been connected to the central transmission line. Bajura has 13.44%, Bajhang 21.58%, Darchula 40.58%, Baitadi 34.36% and Achham 45.35%. Five local levels in Bajura, one in Bajhang, two in Achham, three in Baitadi, and two in Darchula are still without any access to electricity.