Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Nagpur, Maharashtra is set to become the first fully solar-powered reserve in India. The tiger reserve will soon implement a ₹2.50 crore solar project to power all ecotourism complexes, water holes, camp offices, guest houses, and staff quarters.
“The project is being implemented by Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA), a state government institute regulating energy conservation. We had submitted a proposal to the agency, which did a survey and is now implementing all the works. We expect the project to be completed in a couple of months” said A. Sreelaxmi, Conservator of Forest (CF) & Field Director at PTR.
Pench Deputy Director, Mr. Prabhu Nath Shukla, has said that the clean energy project will help the organization save approximately ₹15 lakh annually, apart from reducing carbon emissions and power distribution problems.
As per officials, about 147kW of solar energy has been sanctioned to connect campuses, offices, and residential quarters to the grid. Moreover, Solar lights and high masts will be installed soon, said MEDA regional director Vaibhav Pathode. Such lights will also be distributed in buffer villages under the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Scheme.
“Solar light reduces the problem of distribution in the power supply due to tree fall due to wind or other factors. Besides, it enhances the value and standard of ecotourism sites. It avoids the crisscross web of electric lines from the campus and is better placed from a safety point of view. If maintained at regular, their life is long” says Sreelaxmi.
Additionally, approximately 150 water holes in the area and 65 protection huts are already being run on solar energy.
Last year, the District Planning Development Council contributed around ₹86 lakh towards the cost of ₹2.50 crore. Additionally, a sanction of ₹50 lakh has been granted for the project. ICICI Foundation has also invested more than ₹50 lakh for the installation of solar-powered pumps on borewells as a part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR).
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Resource: The Times of India
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