A solar power cart named ‘Saura Ratha’ was inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the occasion of Disaster Preparedness Day on October 29 here.
The cart is a joint endeavour of Government of Odisha, Climate Parliament and Practical Action. The legislator of Climate Parliament network Prasant Kumar Muduli initiated discussion with the concerned Minister and the Department of Disaster Management and the OREDA to develop a model which would meet the energy requirement in inaccessible areas of the disaster prone areas.
The idea was that the solar pack along with the appliances would be loaded on a hand-pulled cart and can be taken to various unreached areas to provide energy solution such as illumination, water pumping and charging of mobile phones etc.
During normal time the solar pack will provide electricity to the cyclone shelters. After series of discussion with OREDA, OSDMA, Climate Parliament and Practical Action, the idea was given a shape. Following are the salient features of the cart:
Climate Parliament State coordinator Itishree Kanungo said the model would showcase complete energy solution, low carbon development and disaster management in an integrated manner.