In a bid to provide alternative source of energy, the Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Authority (UREDA) has started distributing solar lanterns among the needy in the disaster ravaged villages of the Himalayan State.
In its efforts to improve the basic amenities in the natural calamity hit areas, the UREDA is distributing 80,000 solar lanterns among the affected families of the hill State in first phase.
It is worth mention here that apart from the UREDA’s efforts to provide 80,000 solar lanterns, the State Government keeping in mind the poor electricity situation of the affected villages, has also urged the Centre Government to grant 40,000 more such solar lanterns to provide the alternative source of energy to the victims of the natural calamity.
“We have already started to distribute solar lanterns. Our plan is to distribute 80,000 solar lanterns in most affected blocks of different hill districts,” said PC Sanwal, Statics Officer, UREDA, Dehradun, while talking to The Pioneer.
Some of the most-affected blocks where the solar lanterns are being distributed include Pithoragarh’s Dharchula and Munsyari, Uttarkashi’s Bhatwari, Chamoli’s Joshimath to name a few, Sanwal further said.
“Our aim is to cover all the disaster-hit blocks which are close to border areas so that at least the basic services like electricity could be ensured with the help of the said alternative source of energy or solar lanterns,” the official concerned maintained.
The State Government is providing these solar lanterns at subsidised rate of Rs 300 per solar lantern. Hopefully, the solar lantern would come in handy for the disaster-hit victims at least to maintain their routine life amid the devastation caused by nature.
The interesting fact is that as the official concerned informed, the State Government has also decided to distribute 40,000 solar lanterns that it has demanded from the Central Government, free-of-cost among the needy people in natural calamity ravaged areas.
But free distribution of solar lantern could be possible in second phase only when the Central Government sanctions it.
The UREDA is already engaged in the task of electrifying the villages in remote and hilly areas where the main electric supply line can’t be provided due to tough geographical terrain.