Fate of the renowned Netarhat School is all set to take an illuminating turn. Scoring another first the school, situated in a relatively hostile natural habitat with no surety of electricity for its sprawling 250 acre campus and over 500 inhabitants, would soon get a dedicated solar power plant with the help of Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (JREDA).
The power plant would be of 213 kw capacity that is understood to fulfill the need of the various Ashrams (hostels), streetlights and classrooms, especially when preliminary supply source is snapped. JREDA had invited interested companies working in the field of solar power for the purpose and after bidding zeroed in on Agni Power and Electronics Pvt ltd, a Kolkata-based firm.
"We have finalised the company for installing solar power plant and also placed order for this purpose to it. They have also started manufacturing the required equipment. As the work is limited to the campus we expect that they would complete the project within 3-4 months," said a senior official of JREDA and also the project director for this programme.
Though, the campus gets electricity supply from Gulma sub-division and connected with Jharkhand State Electricity Board's grid but the same remain erratic due to difficult terrain, inclement weather condition and poor law and order situation this part of latehar district lives with. Many a time power supply goes off for several days leaving the entire campus in a dark gloom.
"It is a huge campus spreading over 250-300 acres. There is dense forest inside the campus. We have to face frequent power breakdowns mainly in rainy seasons. This causes darkness in the campus and hostels. With streetlights going off sometimes it become very scary and unsafe for the students and teachers living here," Ram Naresh Singh, Principal of Netarhat Vidyalaya, told The Pioneer. The school, cradle for several luminaries that include IAS, IPS and other top professionals, has as many as 21 Ashrams which house around 500 pupils besides teaching and non-teaching staff.
"It would be a boon for the campus as regular power supply is a precious thing here. We also face security threat as it is an open campus. With light remaining major part of night, it would certainly help," added the Principal. It is pertinent to mention here that the place is also highly Maoist-infested and far from district and State headquarters. The solar plant would cost around Rs 3.25 crore in which solar panels and batteries would be placed at various hostels, main building and street lampposts. The company besides installing the equipment would also maintain it for five years in the school.
"The idea behind going for solar power was unanimous as it is ideal for the places as remote like this and where it is tough to maintain the conventional power grid. We have planed it after accessing the requirements of the campus that also include warm water during winters. With the solar power plant the school would have a backup power supply source and this would be a great help," said the JREDA official.