Nepal Electricity Authority is planning to install additional 1,500 solar lamps in Kathmandu Valley as a part of Kathmandu Ujyaalo Abihiyan this year. The project is will cost an estimated Rs 250 million.

The NEA in association with Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has already installed 2,000 solar lamps on major streets of Kathmandu.

Meanwhile, there has been concerns regarding lack of maintenance of the street lamps. More than 300 lamps are out of order, but neither the NEA nor the KMC has stepped forward to fix them.

The warranty contract that was signed between the NEA and two Chinese construction companies for the maintenance of solar light has already expired. NEA said Hydro China and China Light were contracted to install the street lights a year ago, but they did not do their job during the earthquake and the border blockade.

“The warranty duration is over, but again we have requested them to repair the broken lights before they leave the country,” said Nutan Dev Bhattarai, project manager at the NEA.

The KMC says since the street lamps have not yet been handed over under its care, the NEA should take up the responsibility of fixing the solar lamps.