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19 January, 2009 – As the winter roosting ground to one of the most endangered bird species in the world, for the people of Phobjikha valley in Wangduephodrang the black-necked cranes meant living without electricity.
Not anymore. By 2011 end, the valley of 800 households, who use solar electricity, will finally get electricity by both underground and overhead cables. The solar panels had been provided by the royal society for the protection of nature (RSPN).
The total project area covers 165 sq km and work on the 33/11 kV main sub station at Tabadin, above the Druk Seed office, will begin by March this year, said senior manager of the urban electrification division, Bhutan power corporation (BPC), Pradeep M Pradhan.
“Initially, it was totally underground but, since the cost was coming very high, we made some changes,” said Pradeep M Pradhan. “Now it’s underground only in the main valley, the crane area.”
The underground (UG) cable of 11 kV will run 13.5 km and a metre deep, while the peripheral 31 km will have overhead electrification. The low voltage (415 volts) electricity lines for the houses will also be UG and run 44 km.
Pradeep M Pradhan said that so far Phobjikha did not get electricity because the valley was far from the grid. “BPC wasn’t able to extend the lines because, for Phobjikha, the nearest sub station is in Lobesa, Punakha.”
But, the rural electrification program III helped the lines to reach almost 20 km nearer to Phobjikha. “BPC is further extending 20 km from Wangduephodrang, via Khotokha to reach Phobjikha,” said the senior manager.
All work has to be done according to guidelines set by RSPN. Some of the guidelines rule that work should be done only from October to March, trenches should not be dug more than 500 m long, be left open and clogged with water, camp areas must be away from wetland, workers cannot trespass through the crane area and use heavy equipment, whose noise may scare the cranes.
The director of RSPN, Lam Dorji, said that cranes were not the only reason for not electrifying the valley. “If we have cables all over the place, it would spoil the scenic beauty and encourage more casualties among endangered species. And, if the habitat is gone, the cranes won’t be there.”
Lam Dorji said that it was important for Phobjikha to remain an ecological centre so that it will attract people, which in turn would enable the communities to provide services.
The project’s total estimated budget is about Nu 134.22m. The Austrian government aid is to the tune of 1.6m euro, equivalent to Nu 92.8m, and the rest will be borne by BPC.
Source: kuenselonline.com