The Indian Army’s Trishakti Corps has commissioned a 10-kilowatt solar power plant at Muguthang village in North Sikkim, a remote settlement located at an altitude of about 15,000 feet near the India-China border, officials said on Monday.
The project, undertaken under the Centre’s Vibrant Villages Programme, is aimed at improving living conditions in far-flung border areas by providing a stable and sustainable source of electricity.
With the installation of the plant, all households in Muguthang now have access to power, enabling year-round habitation and enhancing safety, connectivity and overall quality of life.
According to an official statement, the availability of reliable electricity has eliminated the need for seasonal migration, a long-standing challenge faced by villagers during the harsh winter months.
Earlier, residents depended on small personal solar panels and were forced to move out of the village for nearly five to six months every year, often leaving behind their homes and livestock.
Muguthang is a sparsely populated border village with 32 residents from 10 families.
Recognising the difficulties faced by the community due to the lack of dependable power, the Trishakti Corps worked closely with local residents to implement a sustainable electrification solution.
The initiative has led to a significant improvement in living conditions and community well-being, the statement said.
