Integrated Rural Energy Programme, a big hit in Andaman

Port Blair, May 23 (UNI) The Integrated Rural Energy Programme (IREP) has proved to be a big hit in the remote and far-flung Andaman and Nicobar islands.

The IREP was implemented in the union territory by the Electricity department of the Andaman and Nicobar administration.

''We got a very good response from the islanders,'' S V Krishna, the executive engineer of NRSE in Andaman told UNI here today.

Under the programme, surveys of different blocks and areas were conducted to assess the energy requirements of rural households for cooking, lighting and heating purposes.

To popularise the programme the department had also organised series of seminars, awareness camps and training programmes in different far-flung areas.

So far, 182 biogas plants, 40,333 improved chulhas, 7,252 solar lanterns, 69 solar home systems, 25 solar street lights and 2,870 improved kerosene stoves have been installed or distributed in these islands under the various renewable energy programmes, Mr Krishna added.

''Solar lanterns proved very helpful for those villages, which were badly hit by tsunami in 2004,'' he added.

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