Towards a renewable future
The state power department has decided to launch a project, Alo Shree, to illuminate all government office buildings with solar power.
The state power and renewable energy minister Mr Sovandeb Chattopadhyay said that the government, in a bid to save on electricity, wanted to launch an environment-friendly power project.
“For this purpose, grid-connected solar photovoltaic (conversion of light into electricity) system will be introduced,” he said.
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Mr Chattopadhyay said the government has already started to provide electricity to the people of Sunderbans through solar power and installed photovoltaic electricity panels in several places.
Additional district magistrates of the all districts came to attend the meeting of the West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency (WBREDA) at Bidyut Unnayan Bhavan.
The meeting was also attended by director-incharge of WBREDA. Mr Chattopadhyay said that the West Bengal government is also going to increase infrastructure in a bid to generate around 100 MW solar energy in the state.
It would prove beneficial not only in providing solar power to all islands of the Sunderbans areas, including Sagar Island, but also help illuminate government office buildings.
He recently held a meeting with the senior officials of the WBREDA regarding this issue and asked them to take steps so as to generate 100 MW solar power within few months. Senior officials including power secretary attended the meeting to discuss the matter.
The WBREDA has already set up 11 small solar photovoltaic power plants on Sagar Island and neighbouring Maushumi Island.
Each plant has its own mini-grid system that distributes electric power to the surrounding villages. The grids are switched on for six hours a day, from 6 pm to midnight, and are managed by cooperative societies formed by the villagers who use the power.
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