The grant will be handed over to Biratnagar sub-metropolitan office through Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and the installation of solar lights will start after a few weeks, informed chief of the sub-metropolitan office Gopal Regmi.[break]"Solar lights will be installed at 39 different areas," said Regmi.
According to Regmi, NEA, the sub-metropolitan office, ADB and the Nepal government will be working hand in hand on the project.
"We came up with the scheme and put forward the proposal to NEA and the donor agency some six months ago. Following an affirmative respose came from both sides, the grant also came through. Currently, we are in the process of drawing the money for the solar installations," said Regmi.
Engineer at the sub-metropolitan office Anil Singh said that the lights will be installed at crowded areas, junctures where the movement of locals is heavy till the late hours, local market areas, cemeteries, parks and hospital areas.
Each solar light is of 28 watt, informed Singh. "The lights will charge up automatically during daylight and turn on at night," said Singh, adding. solar plates and batteries first need to be installed atop lamp posts.
According to Regmi, new poles are being erected for the solar lights. Among the 15,000 street lights in Biratnagar, 12,000 are CFL lights, informed Regmi.
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