From Sannio C Siangshai
JOWAI: In a first of its kind initiative in the State, Sakri village in East Jaintia Hills has been electrified through a mini-hydro project jointly implemented by the Meghalaya Rural Development Society (MRDS), Lifcom and the Nagaland Empowerment of People through Energy Development (NEPED).
The Rs 1.50 lakh mini-hydro project known as hydroger, a bigger dynamo-type generator, was inaugurated by the East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner, Abhishek Bhagotia on Thursday.
Out of Rs 1.50 lakh, Rs. 1 lakh was funded by the MRDS and Rs. 50,000 was sponsored by the NEPED.
MRDS officials including the project Manager, C. Lyngdoh, Extra-Additional Commissioner, D Lyngdoh, village elders including the headman and the village secretary were also presence in the inaugural function.
The hydroger does not require a lot of water and small streams will act as a source to generate electricity. The water from the stream is stored in a reservoir and released 100 m down to the hydroger which comprises of cylindrical cast iron casing housing an alternator which is connected to the turbine through the shaft. Hydro (water) power is used to turn the turbine to generate energy.
Sakri, a remote village under Narpuh Elaka in East Jaintia Hills district is inaccessible due to absence of roads and one has to trek for more than an hour along the Lukha River to reach the village.
The village headman, Leader Lyngdoh said that the mini-hyndro project has come as a blessing for the villagers.
“Now the people can watch television and charge their mobile phones. Earlier, we had to spend a lot of money on candles and kerosene oil but now all we have to contribute is Rs 10 per month (per family) as maintenance fees”, he said.
While giving details on the project, the MRDS Project Manager said, “The project is an environment-friendly innovation which can facilitate sustainable development in the State and help change the rural economy”.
“It is a renewable source of energy which can serve as a strong empowering component for people and help to meet the rural energy needs”, he added.
He further informed that Hydroger is a cost-effective machine, which generates electricity at an installed capacity of 5 to 10 kilowatts. The Sakri Mini-hydro project is generating 10 kilowatts of electricity. The village has only about 35 household and the total consumption of electricity is 7 kilowatts. Training has been also provided to some youth in the village for proper maintenance of the hydroger.
Lauding the initiative of the MRDS, EJH DC Bhagotia hoped that the mini-hydro project will empower villagers to manage their own power and provide clean and renewable energy to rural people.