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August 1, 2002 

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PATHANPARA VILLAGE GENERATES ITS OWN ELECTRICITY

Fr.Mathew Asariparambil, Pathanpara village, Kannur

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If mountain does not come to Mohammed, Mohammed can always go to the mountain.  If Electricity Board doesn’t bring power to Pathanpara village, Kannur even after 25 years of petitions, what prevents the locals from generating electricity using their own resources?

This is exactly what the people of Pathanpara have done.  They are generating 5 KW power by harnessing the perennial flow from a small stream.  And then, using their own distribution system, this power is made available to domestic and commercial users.

The technical know-how for the venture was provided by 2 local youths” Anil Kumar, who runs an electronic unit at Alakkode and his friend Samuel Thomas.  When their input combined with the leadership of local priest, Fr.Mathew Asariparambil, the venture was destined to succeed.  For earlier, the priest had organized the people to purchase a bus for the village when the bus owners refused to operate their vehicles along that route.

37 households within 1 km radius of the project contributed Rs.6000 each.  The less well-off 17 families in the area contributed Rs.2000 each.  All the people agreed to provide free labour for 20 days.

Thus from November 21 to December 24, the people worked day and night to make their dream a reality.  And on the Christmas eve, as if to herald a new era of development, the sky of Pathanpara lit up with the power generated by the people, for the people.

At present the houses are permitted to consume 100W from 6.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.  using energy-efficient CFL bulbs.

In the 2nd phase of their project, the storage capacity of the reservoir will be raised from 1 to 2 lakh litres.

The reservoir in the village

Courtesy: Nimmy George (text) and Jijo Mathew (photo), Karshakashree, April 1998

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