SHILLONG: The State government has introduced solar power with 3 KW photo voltaic plants in 41 government aided educational institutions across the State.
A senior government official on Thursday informed that this new initiative to introduce solar power has been successful so far.
“All the 42 institutions are not using solar power for lighting of class rooms and sockets to run computers,” a senior government official said even as informing that the schools which have been included in the first phase includes U Kiang Nangbah College, Jowai and Tura Government College.
According to official sources, this initiative is part of the ‘Chief Minister’s Mission Green’ program which envisages distribution of solar lanterns to students of class IX and X to ensure that their studies is not disturb that their pursuit of studies is not hampered by such power cuts, adding that the State Government had sanctioned Rs 2.10 crore towards this program.
“He (Chief Minister) is very concerned with the future of the students especially with so many complaints that frequent power cuts grossly negate efforts by students to study long hours,” a senior government official said.
Besides, the Meghalaya Non-Conventional & Rural Development Agency (MNC&RDA) which is implementing this program has successfully installed 1 KW solar power plants at the MLA Hostel in Shillong, the seven old DC offices, West Khasi Hills Circuit House and the Director of Mineral Resources. “Now there is a proposal to install such plants in four major jails of the State,” a senior govenrment official said.
“A survey is going on to cover all civil hospitals, CHCs and PHCs in the State with special attention to emergency sections such as refrigerators where medicines and vaccines are kept, labour rooms, ICU and ICCU and if possible even operation theatres,” official sources said
However the cost component is high despite the fact that the scheme is a 90 per cent centrally sponsored one.