Solar power lights up three remote villages in Jashpur
Off-grid solar panels have brought electricity to three remote villages in Jashpur district, lighting up the lives of people who could not get power connections since Independence. Just three days ago, more than 100 houses and streets in three villages of Kuraag, Dhawaipath and Karanpur and its two hamlets were illuminated with LED bulbs, bringing a ray of hope of development to these remote villages in Manora development block. This also brought mobile phone connectivity as earlier the villagers had to travel about five kilometres away from their village to have access to mobile networks.
Talking to TOI, Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) assistant engineer D Sidar said, ” As all these villages are located on hill-top, it was a humongous task to establish the electricity set-up of solar plant for these villages, which are cut off from the mainstream life and surrounded by dense forests and hilly terrains.” Hence, to establish the central system of the solar power plant for providing electricity to these villages of Kuraag and Dhawaipath, a central spot was identified for both the villages.
In order to reach out to the spot for establishing the main power plant, the team of CREDA officials, village residents and technicians everyday travelled for 13 kilometres on the mountain due to absence of the road. As these villages are located in midst of dense forest and to avoid the encounter with wild animals, the work of installing the power plant used to wind up at 5 o’clock in the evening, the CREDA officials said. The installation of solar power plant and providing electricity to the villages was accomplished in span of one-and-a- half month.
The village residents are infused with hope and happiness. Talking to TOI, Dhawaipath resident Kaleshwar Ram said, “Villagers are elated on getting power supply in the night time. My village consist around 15 families and all are mostly happy for their children’s future, as now they are out of the dark and could study in late evenings as well.”
Source:ETE
