Solar solution for Barmer’s water woes

As part of harvesting solar energy for critical utilities, the state government is in the process of completing work on 70 solar tube wells in Barmer district under the Mukhyamantri Solar Adharit Nalkoop Yojana (MSANY).The project is being implemented by Rajasthan Electronics and Instrumentation Ltd and the firm has received a work order of Rs 11.91 crore for the same.

For the district, reeling under acute power shortage, the project will prove to be a boon as water will be available round-the-clock from December. The tube wells will not only provide uninterrupted water supply to the community, but also irrigate farms. Considering the importance of the project, the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) is closely monitoring it. According to PHED superintending engineer Nemaram Parihar, the project in Barmer district will be completed this year by December.Other than solar-based projects, the government has drawn up a comprehensive water management and supply plan under the ambitious Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan (MJSA) scheme and will also focus on surface water-based schemes, Parihar said.

In Rajasthan, the availability of water per person is less compared to other states, and, due to the shortage of surface water and the huge distance between water resources and communities, supply is an expensive affair.In the entire state, the department is planning to set up 1,000 solar tube wells and 400 solar deflouridation plants. A private firm has been roped in to maintain them for five years.In Jodhpur division, a private firm will construct and maintain 176 solar tube wells. After five years, the firm will hand over them to the government.Stay updated on the go with Times of India News App. Click here to download it for your device.

Source:TOI