DADU, April 1: Frequent electricity outages are no problem for Hakeeman these days. Thanks to a solar energy panel installed on the roof of her house, she enjoys an uninterrupted power supply round the clock.
Moreover, her kitchen not only has an energy-efficient gas stove but also a pipe to pump out the smoke. She lives in an area where natural gas is not available and electricity poles damaged during last year`s floods have not been repaired.
Bago Teewino, the native village of Hakeeman to the west of Mehar, was devastated by the floods. Officials of the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) had to walk all the way from the nearest town to reach the village as the furious waters had washed away whatever road links it had with urban areas. |
The 40 - year - old Hakeeman`s two children, Irfana, two-years old, and Azhar three-months old, died from cold on Jan 1 as they were living in the open as floods had uprooted her house.
As many as 123 houses collapsed in the village after a 500-feet wide breach disabled the Suprio Bund.
But after a few months, Hakeeman, wife of peasant Mohammad Sachal, received keys to a one-room house constructed by Participatory Efforts for Health Environment, a non-governmental organisation, and financed by the UNDP.
The house is equipped with a solar energy system.
Zaheer Ahmed Tunio, an engineer working for PEHE, told Dawn “we are
using Gill (the Persian word for soil also used in Sindhi) in place of cement as it is suited to warm climates”.
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Gill is a kind of construction material which is prepared from clay mixed with water.
Rafique Ahmed Junejo, of PEHE, said the network of solar lights was installed before the completion of houses.
One house costs 1000 dollars and a total of 123 houses will be constructed in Bago Teewino village, he added.
Eighty-three houses have been completed and keys have been handed over to the owners.
Jobless villagers were being trained and temporary jobs being created.
Over 300 men of this village were engaged in construction of houses. |
