Law school switches on sunny nights
Ranchi: National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), in Kanke on Wednesday became India’s first law university to extensively use solar power on campus, with its students celebrating their freedom from blackouts.
The solar power system at the law school was formally inaugurated on Wednesday evening by chief minister Raghubar Das in the presence of Jharkhand High Court acting Chief Justice D.N. Patel, Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, and other dignitaries.
Two installed solar panels can generate 100 kilo watt of green energy. Though the campus will use conventional power, renewable energy will be used as a back-up whenever there is a power cut.
Both boys and girls hostels of the varsity – with some 300 rooms in all – can use solar power for their lights and fans when there’s a blackout.
Though only a few students came back on Wednesday after a month-and-a-half-long break, students were ecstatic to have solar energy.
Shweta Mahli, a fourth-year student of BA LLB told this paper on Wednesday that they felt “empowered to be the first law school in India to adopt renewable energy on such a huge scale”.
“Our fraternity knows we are the first. It feels great,” she said. “Also, practically, you know the power outages in a place like Ranchi. At times there is no power for hours. We had a generator, but it had limitations. So, this alternative power source is a great relief. No more living in the dark, preparing for exams under the light of cellphones,” she said.
Agreed Anurag Thakur, her classmate. “For starters, during load-shedding we can use a light and fan in a room with solar power. Slowly, I am sure charging mobile phones and laptops will be allowed,” he said. “The greatest relief is that we don’t have to depend on generators, which were allowed only after 6pm but had technical snags and diesel stock uncertainty,” he said.
Last December, NUSRL, along with other law varsities of the country, had approached the Union ministry of renewable energy, seeking aid to install solar panels within their campuses. Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Authority took up the job to install solar panels at NUSRL. The job was over recently.
In his address, chief minister Raghubar Das on Wednesday said he had high hopes from NUSRL. “It should become a world-class institution,” Das said.
An orientation for some 150 new students of the university, including UG and PG, was also held on Wednesday. State chief secretary Sudhir Tripathi advised new students to read various journals to develop their own thinking.
Source: telegraphindia
