Tripura powering green with solar energy

Agartala, June 8 (ANI): Growing concerns over climate change owing to environmental degradation has led to acceptance of the concept of green energy in Tripura.

The Tripura Renewable Energy Development Authority (TREDA) and urban development department in association with the Union Ministry Of New And Renewable Energy (MNRE) have been actively working to promote green energy.

Green energy is not just a concept in Tripura any more - it has already been implemented at various levels. Both, the government and the non-government bodies are taking steps to promote and tap green energy sources.

According to officials, the focus has shifted from traditional sources of power generation to renewable energy sources in the last few years and the emphasis is on non-conventional energy source solar power.

Debabrata Shukla Das, Project Director of TREDA informed that under the remote village electrification (RVE) programme those villages where convention electric line did not reach and is not viable.

"Around 40,000 solar lanterns, 20,000 home lighting systems have already been distributed among beneficiaries at very subsidized price to encourage use of renewal energy," he said.

Das added that recently 16 villages have been already covered in South Tripura district and another 30 virgin village and 488 helmets are to be covered.

Basanti Biswas who is an owner of a solar home lighting system said, "As we got this solar home lighting system, it is a great benefit for us as we do not have electricity connection and stay in darkness. Moreover, we got it sat a very subsidized rate and had to payonly Rs. 1000 but the actual price is around Rs. 14 to 15000."

Subash Chowdhury, Director TREDA said: "'A Rs.20 crore project has been undertaken to make Agartala a 'solar city'. The union ministry of new and renewable energy would bear 50 percent of the cost and remaining would be given by the Tripura government and 50 lakhs sanctioned for master plan and training of staff."

At present in Tripura under the TREDA, remote village electrification (RVE) and Jawaharlal Nehru solar mission some 693 hamlets and 46 villages in remote areas have already been provided solar energy, benefiting more than 32,000 families, mostly tribals. By Pinaki Das (ANI)