EMN
DIMAPUR, APRIL 15
A new light has dawned on Aniashu and Kingpao villages located about 60 km south-west of Noklak in Tuensang village and bordering Myanmar. The ‘light’ here refers to the power generated from a stream in the area.
The two villages Aniashu and Kingpao are not connected to the power grid and have been deprived of electricity as they have been of road connectivity for decades and Kingpao is atleast a three hour trek from Aniashu village.The Nagaland Empowerment of People through Energy Development (NEPeD) has been trying to light up powerless villages with its 3 kW hydroger. The installation of the hydrogers, (which are small turbine based electricity generating units and can be easily installed even in small streams as they require less water for operating) was carried out by Project Operations Unit (POU) members Ayong Chang and David Yepthomi in these two villages. They were assisted in the task with the help of three ‘Rural Engineers’ from Kingjung village and local villagers.
Rural Engineers are villagers trained by NEPeD staff in the running and maintenance of the hydrogers. They are also briefed on the effects of climate change and our responsibility particularly through the conservation of catchment areas, as a need to sustain the ecology and for the hudrogers to operate successfully.
Since 2011-12, NEPeD has also introduced the NEPeD Energy Committee (NEC) made up of rural engineers and also at least 2 women members. The committee is responsible for maintaining and repairing the hydrogers and also to generate income from the electricity produced.
The NEPeD POU team found very grateful villagers at the successful installation of the hydrogers. “Light in the village has come like a gift they could never have dreamt of”, said the headman of Aniashu village, with renewed hope for a brighter future.
They also expressed confidence that the hydrogers will not only improve the quality of their lives, but add to man-hours with the lighting facilities and help them save money, which was being spent in lighting materials such as candles, kerosene oil, and firewood.
