The Hindu : Kerala / Kozhikode News : Power of self-reliance lights up this little Kozhikode village

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Monday, Jul 07, 2008
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Kerala - Kozhikode

Power of self-reliance lights up this little Kozhikode village

Maleeha Raghaviah

Load-shedding does not nag the people here

KOZHIKODE: When load-shedding spreads darkness all around, lights burn without a flicker in this hilly area.

The 20-odd families of Poovaranthode colony in the Koodaranji gram panchayat limits in Koduvally block in the district have their own independent source of power. They do not depend on the Kerala State Electricity Board.

“It is a long story,” says K.M. Mohanan, ward member. “We expected power to be supplied when the Urmi project 1 and 2 were being implemented by harnessing the waters of the Poyilingapuzha, just 3 km away. That was not to be.”

Then, a project of the Agency for Non-Conventional Energy and Rural Technology (ANERT) to supply power by tapping solar energy got delayed. The people decided to generate power themselves through a simple mechanism, Mr. Mohanan says.

From the Poyilingapuzha and the many rivulets nearby, water is taken up a 1.2-km gradient by hose to the ward. The water flows with force by the time it reaches there. This helps to run a dynamo and the electricity so generated is stored in a battery.

Each household spent Rs.5,000 to Rs.7,000 on fitting the hose, dynamo and battery. The expenses have gone up of late because of the price rise, Mr. Mohanan says.

“Each household can burn two or three tube lights and operate a television now. Even colour television can be run,” he gleams.

When water becomes scarce in the summer, power generation has to be curtailed to some extent.

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