Bengkulu (ANTARA News) - The national program of independent community empowerment (PPNPM) within villages in Lebong regency, Bengkulu, allocated Rp2 billion for the building of a micro-hydro power plant (PLTMH).

"A PNPM in an independent village is known as PNPM Green. This program is for the empowerment of rural people by way of the activity of the community based on the management of natural resources and environment with the application of effective and environmentally friendly and sustainable technology," regency facilitator Agus Suryadi said Thursday.

He said one kind of community activity in the PNPM Green is the building of a PLTMH.

For 2010, the fund allocation for a PLTMH in Lebong regency amounting to Rp2 billion, is focused on the activities of three villages in Padang Bano sub-district,Lebong regency, Bengkulu province.

Supriyadi, facilitator of Padang Bano sub-district said up till now to activity of PNPM Green is to build a PLTMH in Padang Bano sub-district in Air Pawuak, Kembung and Sebayue villages with subscribers comprising 900 families. He said to secure the sustainability of a PLTMH, the community will plant 6,000 trees in each location.

The building effort has reached the stage of digging a channel and construction of a dam, or 25 pct of the entire work. It has been targeted that the three villages have electricity in 2011.

The building of a PLTMH us also expected a conservation and river flow protection guaranteeing sustainability of resources of PLTMH by the local community as managers and enjoying the benefits. (*)

H-NG/A014

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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