media manual_low res final

Why Dharnai in Bihar?
After an extensive field research and
villagers maintain a progressive attitude. The total land holding is
assessment based on various feasibility 1,500 bigha xxvii and the villagers have their agriculture activities in
criteria, Greenpeace selected Dharnai village around 1,200 bigha. Agriculture has been the predominant economic
panchayat in the Makhdumpur block of activity in the village and there has been a substantial energy demand
Jehanabad district in Bihar. The village is from irrigation for agriculture. Our survey shows that about 4,03,125
located 80km from Patna (on the Patna- cubic meters of water is required annually for irrigation purposes
Gaya highway) and also has a railway and cumulatively the expenses for irrigation is about Rs. 12,54,000
station, Barabar Halt. There are around 450 annually. With increasing diesel prices, these expenses will continue to
households in the village with a population rise further.
of around 2,400 people.
The village settlement area, comprising houses, shops and other
Thirty years ago, due to various reasons, the buildings, is around 100 bigha. This has substantial number of
village lost its electricity infrastructure. Since shops with various commercial activities, like local eat-outs, bank,
then, the villagers have suffered due to lack etc., constituting the commercial demand for energy. The households
of electricity and have been waiting to get are spread across the village into four clusters. The load from the
electricity back to the village.
households mainly depend on lighting, use of fan, mobile charging
and in some cases television. All these make Dharnai an ideal case for
However, despite the lack of electricity, the Greenpeace’s demonstrative project.
LOCATION
Located between Patna-Gaya
highway and Barabar Halt railway
station, 80 kms away from Patna
Population
Around 2,200
No. of households
4 clusters comprising
450 households
MEDIA MANUAL | Micro-grid in Dharnai
15