Leh, Oct.26 The establishment of a small solar power plant has delighted villagers in Markha Valley in Jammu and Kashmir's Leh District.

The project is aimed at promoting trekking, tourism and mineral water usage plant.

The Markha Valley is located at an altitude of between 3,500 and 5,200 meters and is in the Hemis National Park.

Funded by Niyamdu Dro, France NGO, the one-kilowatt plant is part of a global project for promotion of sustainable development, environment protection and equitable tourism.

Volunteers of the Youth Association for Conservation and Development (YAFCAD) of Hemis National Park helped to construct the solar power plant complex. It has already started supplying electricity to villages in the region.

"We are thankful to Mr. Jean Francois and to the entire team of Niyamdu Dro, France, for providing us with a solar power plant. We also thank the students association of the Hemis National Park for constructing a building for the solar power plant. We hope we will get help from them in the future," said Tashi Largyal, a villager.

Eashey Dolma, the coordinator of the Markha Solar Power Plant complex, said the area has benefited a lot because of it.

"Institutes like the school and the medical aid center have benefited," Dolma said. By Jigmet Wangchuk(ANI)