Home > News > A “thousand butter lamps” light up Bidung

A “thousand butter lamps” light up Bidung

14 November 2008

The remotest villages of Khairee, Gelong Gonpa and Solongonpa under Bidung Gewog were electrified coinciding with the coronation of His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo, well before the December-end deadline for completion. The electricity will benefit more than 300 people in 60 households.

The Khairee Tshogpa, Sherab, said, “Everyone worked hard to make our electrification coincide with the coronation of His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo. We have also prayed for the long life of our King and his successful reign as we lit our homes almost like a thousand butter lamps.”

The people of the villages received enthusiastic support from Bhutan Power Corporation (BPC).

“We had until December 30 to complete the electrification. However, we tried our best to make the electrification coincide with the coronation.

The villagers, tshogpa and BPC were cooperative and supportive to make it happen. Hence, we could charge the line and supply power just on the day the coronation began in Punakha.” said Tshewang Rinzin, Deputy Manager of BPC.

The arrival of power to the villages has generated a lot of excitement. At present, not many households have electric appliances like rice cookers and water boilers. A privileged few though have started cooking in rice cookers given to them by civil servant relatives.

Slowly and surely, the villagers are embracing the merits of electrically blessed lives. “We do not have to collect firewood now. I could not afford a rice cooker on my own but a relative of mine working in the civil service has sent me one. I am eating from the same rice cooker and it is fun. We are so happy,” said a villager from Khairee.

BPC officials were enthused about the completion of their project there.

“They depended upon the firewood but now, after the arrival of power, they can cook using electric appliances. This will save them a lot of time. Henceforth, the village women will be able to weave at night as well.” said Tshewang Rinzin. BPC officials said that the electrification of these three villages would help boost the rural economy and quality of life. They said the electrification had been long due. The three villages had been left out even though they were close to urban towns like Rangjung. Neighbouring villages like Yabrang already received electricity.

These factors and the proximity of the villages to the existing supply grid helped BPC complete the electrification before the scheduled deadline. The work for the electrification had begun in September 2008. The total cost of the project was around Nu 1.6 million which was funded by the BPC.

By Tempa Wangdi

Ratings: 1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
Loading ... Loading ...
Email this page Email this page     Print this page Print this page    

Posted by Bhutan Observer · Filed Under News 

Comments

Leave your comment





Note: Comments are moderated by Bhutan Observer, and may not appear until they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

Bhutan Observer is Digg proof thanks to caching by WP Super Cache