BERHAMPUR: There are plans to provide electricity to remote Lundurupadar village through a small captive power plant that runs on biogas generated from biological waste of the village and surrounding forest.

Lundurupadar is situated inside the dense forests under Ghumusar north forest division. It is one among 7,000 remote villages of the State to which providing electricity through conventional medium will be too costly an affair.

Joining hands with the Orissa Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA), the Forest Department has decided to lighten up the nightlife in this remote tribal village.

Centre's nod

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Godavaris Panda said the plan for electrification of Lundurupadar through renewable energy has received approval of the Centre and they have also received the funds for the first phase of works.

Dengabhuin, another remote tribal village under the forest division, was provided electricity last year by using a power generator that runs on bio-diesel and oils produced from forest produce procured from the area. At Lundurupadar, the system cannot be followed due to non-availability of oil seed in the area.

At Lundurupadar, a biogas plant will be established which uses garbage from nearby forest and village and animal excreta. Gas thus produced will be used to run a generator, which provides electricity to households and streetlights. A team from the OREDA has already visited the village to make a primary survey.

Future projects

Forest officials plan similar projects in some remote villages identified. Gramadevati village finds a place in this list.

According to social activists like C.R. Dash, use of renewable energy is the only way to achieve hundred per cent electrification in the State where there are tribal hamlets that are still inaccessible by conventional roads.

Under the recently introduced Biju Gramya Jyoti Yojana, electrification of extreme remote villages can be taken up through similar processes.

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