To sort out the problem of frequent power cuts due to unavailability of adequate thermal and hydro power, both the Union and State Government should encourage establishment of CMERI model of ‘solar tree’ plants on rooftops. This has been suggested by Odisha Krushak Mahasangha president and former MlA Bibhudhendra Pratap Das on Friday.
The CMERI (Central Mechanical Engineering Research), Durgapur has recently invented a ‘solar tree’ having 30 photovoltaic panels generates three kilo watts (KW) of power and require only four square feet space for its establishment. And presently, it costs about Rs3 lakh for setting up of such a solar power generating tree. Three kilo watts of power can meet power needs of five households. The CMREI is a constituent of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
“Due to power cuts, people are facing lot of problems. If the CMERI model of solar threes is set up, the problem of power cuts will be weeded out and the problem of pollution, caused by thermal power generation, can be lessened,” opined Das in a statement. To encourage people to establish such power units, both the Union and State Governments should provide 50 per cent subsidies together and wave import duty on procurement of required equipment. Besides, the Government should put up such solar trees on all Government offices, universities, medical colleges and colleges and direct owners of shopping malls and apartments to establish the same, Das suggested. He said medical colleges can set up such units with user fees collected from patients
He viewed that pancyat, block and DRDA offices can establish solar trees on their own. The former MlA further demanded that a subject for training on repair of solar units introduced in Electricial Trades in all ITI as there is death of such mechanics.
This apart, Das demanded that Gujarat model of solar power thermals be set up on higher non-agriculture lands to short out shortage of power in the State.