Solar lights in villages: PSUs to take up initiative

Kakinada: With solar energy emerging as a non-polluting and clean energy source in the conservation of energy, the installation of solar street light facility has gained momentum in the district rural sector.

Under the initiative of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), major PSUs such as the ONGC, Power Grid Corporation of India and private sector organizations like the GMR have volunteered to take up the installation of solar lighting system in selected villages in the district.

Each of 18 watts solar light will cost Rs 22,500.
ONGC, on its part, has installed 50 solar lights in Odalarevu village in Allavaram mandal in the district.

Power Grid Corporation of India, in the past, built the Surampalem Power project, is now ready to undertake the installation of 100 solar street lights in Surampalem village in Peddapuram mandal.

In addition to this, the company has agreed to provide 100 more solar lights at Irripaka, the native village of Jaggampeta TDP MLA Jyotula Nehru.

GMR has already been assigned the land in KSEZ in U-Kothapalli and Tondangi mandals. To add to this, the GMR Port in Tondangi has evinced interest in the installation of 50 solar lights in A V Nagaram, the native village of AP Finance and Legislative Affairs Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu.

The Power Grid Corporation of India would select the villages for installation of solar lights and GMR has been assigned with the task of completing the work, said NREDCAP’s district manager G Satyanarayana.
Taking a cue from ONGC and PGCI, GAIL and Cairn Energy are soon going to bear the cost for erecting solar light across the district where their oil operations are underway.