Asom: Rural electrification with solar energy

Mangaldai, May 04: Asom has emerged as the first state in the country to implement the Remote Village Electrification Programme of the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) despite its struggle to cope with power shortage.

The Asom State Electricity Board (ASEB) has identified 2139 remote villages, not accessible from the existing conventional grid due to various topographical constraints, of which 1084 are located in the plains and the remaining in hilly areas.

The ASEB had set in motion plans to provide solar or biomass energy to these villages depending upon the technical option after conducting resource study by experts through outsourcing.

In the hilly areas, priority has been accorded to the small hydro projects.

To provide 100 per cent electricity to these villages by 2009 and all households by 2012 as mandated by the Centre, the state power department has been declared as the nodal agency, while the ASEB, Asom Energy Development Agency (AEDA) and the forest department would be the implementing agencies.

State Power Minister Pradyut Bordoloi yesterday launched the Remote Village Electrification Scheme at Hillaikhunda village in Mangaldai of Darrang district in central Asom.

In the first phase of the scheme, 500 households of 11 revenue villages in the Puthimari Panchayat of Mangaldai were given solar system units, each comprising a solar plate, two CFL bulbs and a battery.

The sets with five-year guarantee have been made available at a subsidised rate of Rs 3600, as against the actual cost of Rs 12000.

UNI