Narinjara News, 1 March 2023

The Indian government in New Delhi has constructed a number of solar plants in five villages under fivetownships of Rakhine State to help theresidents get 24-hour electricity, said the residents.

The selected villages include Ganggar under Kyauk Phyu township,Phoung Khar under Taungup township, Owe Htin under Maungdawtownship, Pyin Ma under PaukTaw township and Chong Kya under Maebon township.

An official from the Indian consulate in Sittwe informedNarinjara News that the projectwas completed in December 2022. The construction began in 2020 with expenses from New Delhi.

"This was implemented in order to develop those areasof Rakhine State,” he added.

Ko Nyunt Win Chay,  a resident of Chong Kyavillage, said that the electricityhas been provided since early February through the solar plants and the villagers are now getting electric powerthroughout the day.

"The electricity is useful for various activities including to watch television programs. We are very happyusing the power supply for variousworks, but still not cooking food items with it,” he stated.

Chong Kya village has more than 70 households with apopulation of over 200.

The villager informed that if a family uses more than thespecified unit of energy, theyhave to pay Kyats 500 per unit. The collected amount will be used for the maintenance of solar factories.

Ko Moe Chan, a resident of Phung Kha village, also informedthat  they have been usingthe electricity since early days of February through the solar plants.He also added that they have to pay Kyats 2,000per month for the use ofelectricity.

"Once the electricity is available in the village, the situation has slowly improved. Cooking with theelectric oven has helped the familiesto avoid buying firewood at higher prices,” he added.

The concerned villages depend on waterways for communications and the task of laying electric wires in thosevillages still remains a challengingjob. So the solar power arrangements have lately brought smiles to those villagers.