Until some time ago, Hurhure Danda folks would curse the gust of wind as it would often throw them off balance. But, not any more.[break]
The same irksome wind has now turned out to be a boon for 46 families living atop the windy hill with the setting up of a Wind Energy Center, which was inaugurated by Environment Minister Hem Raj Tated Friday.
“Now, locals of Hurhure Danda can watch television and use computers,” says Dr Narayan Prasad Chaulagain, Executive Director of Alternative Energy Promotion Board (AEPB).
The Hurhure Danda wind energy system, touted as Nepal’s biggest, has been installed with financial support of Asian Development Bank (ADB).
To generate electricity from wind, two large-sized fans have been installed atop Hurhure Danda. The fans, stirred by the forceful wind, generate 10 KW. A solar system installed close by generates an additional 2 KW.
The 12 KW will suffice to light the whole village, says Dr Chaulagain.
A remote village predominantly inhabited by Magars, Hurhure Danda now remains alight even when the rest of the country suffers hours of power outage.
Earlier, Hurhure Danda folks used kerosene to dispel darkness in the night. When kerosene was unavailable, they had no choice but to live in darkness. Hurhure Danda is 23 km from Daldali Bazaar that lies along the East West highway.
Villagers say it would have taken them many years to get electricity, had they waited for the government to expand the national grid to their village. Each household has to pay Rs 300 for using electricity generated from the wind. They have also set up a fund to maintain the wind energy system.
Kagbeni of Mustang district was Nepal’s first village to get electricity from the wind. “That project was not that successful,” says Dr Chaulagain.
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