Residents of Upper Yarkhun villages enjoying modern facilities of life due to Kankhun hydro power station
By Zahiruddin
CHITRAL: “The electricity at the nominal cost and its uninterrupted supply has led to bring about a pleasant change in our lives especially in the extended winter season of five months when we feel comfort by using this galore of electricity to heat our homes and make them cozy”, the enthusiastic beneficiaries of the micro hydro power project in Kankhun village of Upper Yarkhun valley.
They went on counting the benefits of the hydro power project which they termed ‘an invaluable gift’ from Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) which it had completed under its Central Asia Poverty Programme two years ago.
The power house covers more than 320 households in five villages in the scattered valley including Lot Gaz, Gherarum, Zehch, Kan Khun and Inchpon with sparse population.
Darum Jan, an octogenarian, said that the electricity had enabled him to know about the modern facilities of life which were unheard of for him as he spent his life in the valley engaged in farming.
“Oven for cooking, electric kettle for making tea, heater for heating the room, washing machine and fridge for keeping edibles fresh are really some of the unbelievable things for him and he had only heard about them from the people of his village coming back from the cities”, he said.
In a light vein, he said that the people of his age would have died without enjoying these fantastic facilities if the AKRSP had not came here with the power project for which they were indebted to it.
Some of the beneficiaries including Muhammad Ilyas, Sajid Ali, Ghairat Ali, Daulat Muhammad and others said that the residents of the distant villages faced acute shortage of fuel wood for getting heat during the extended winter season but with the completion of the power houses, the issue will be solved once and for all as electricity will be used for cooking and heating as well.
They added that the huge amount of money which they spent on purchasing fuel wood and kerosene oil every year will now be utilized for education of their children, healthcare and improving the standard and quantity of nutrition.
They said that in the winter season, the owners of grinding machines of wheat used to charge Rs. 1200 per bag of 100 kg when they used diesel to operate it and now to their great relief, they charged only Rs. 300 when they used the electricity of the power house.
The availability of electricity in the area has also opened avenues of information and recreation for the residents as they are now connected to the internet service and are able to receive the transmissions of television using satellite dish.
The villagers said the cheap and uninterrupted electricity has increased the charm of the village for them for which they were highly indebted to AKRSP.
