The mills, which are traditionally used for irrigation and grinding grain, are being turned into generators as part of a project set up by the state government and the Central Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources.
The project has been encouraging villagers to adapt their watermills to generate electricity at a cost of Rs.300,000 (US$6700) per mill.
Two mills in Dugri and Samang villages in the Kullu valley have already been converted into functioning generators – producing 5MW and 3MW respectively. Others are being planned in 85 pilot locations across Himachal Pradesh.
