MADURAI: Solar power has helped to light up 32 remote tribal and non-tribal habitations located on the hilly terrains of Kanyakumari district.
Being implemented under the State Government’s Remote Village Electrification Programme, solar-powered Home Lighting Systems (HLS) have been installed in 783 homes and 34 Street Lighting Systems (SLS) over the last two years, according to Deputy General Manager of Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) S.M. Vijayakumar. Kanyakumari is one of the 10 southern districts under the control of Madurai Regional Office of TEDA, which supervises the project.
The project is being implemented in the town panchayats of Kadayal, Ponmanai and Petchipparai village panchayat. The entire cost of the project was shared by the State Government and Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, he said. The tender was executed by the public sector enterprise Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
While the cost of each HLS worked out to Rs. 14,680, the cost of each SLS was Rs. 26,480. The cost is inclusive of a five-year comprehensive maintenance contract for all the equipment.
Mr. Vijayakumar said before commencing the project, the consent of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board was obtained.
“Suralacode village panchayat is among the several places being considered for expanding the project,” said Mr. Vijayakumar.
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