Only half of the populations of Karnali Province have access to electricity: NEA

Only 56.79 percent of the population in Karnali Province have access to electricity, which is far below the national average of 92.51 percent. According to the records with Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), three districts including Dolpa, Mugu and Humla of Karnali Province have not received at all the electricity supplied through the national grid. Citing geographic difficulties in the region, the government has been prioritizing electrification in these districts by using alternative energy like solar energy and micro-hydroelectricity, among others. Out of 753 local bodies in the country, 35 are still deprived of electricity supplied via the national transmission lines. Most of them are from Karnali Province, shows the NEA statistics. Of 92.51 percent of the population having access to electricity supply, 92.37 percent have been receiving electricity supplied through the national grid, while the remaining 0.14 percent receive off-grid electricity. The rate of electrification is the highest of 99.95 percent in Madhesh Province, while it is just 56.79 percent in Karnali Province, the lowest of all. Around 97.76 percent of the population in Gandaki Province has access to electricity, followed by 97.47 percent in Bagmati Province, 96.73 percent in Lumbini Province and 78.85 percent in Sudurpaschim have access to electricity.     Out of the 77 districts, electricity has been supplied to all the local levels of 42 districts. While 14 districts have received 75-95 percent electrification, 10 districts have received 50-75 percent electrification. Likewise, seven districts including East Rukum, Jumla, Kalikot, Mugu, Humla, Bajhang and Baitadi have electrification between 25 to 50 percent. In four districts — Solukhumbu, Dolpa, Jajarkot and Bajura — the rate of electrification is only up to 25 percent.  Out of the 753 local bodies, 476 are fully electrified and 242 local bodies have partial electrification. Province wise, Bagmati Provinc , Gandaki Province, Lumbini Province and Madhesh Province have complete electrification.