India: 50000 people enjoy solar energy in Natore

India: 50000 people enjoy solar energy in Natore

People in the backward char areas along the river Padma in the district are using solar energy as an alternate source of power when the entire country is experiencing erratic power supply.
Natore Palli Biddyut Samity-2 sources said nearly 50,000 people of 33 villages under three upazilas of the district are using solar panel at present. Different markets at Chalk- Rajapur, Palashy, Fatehpur and Lakkhipur areas are also using solar energy nowadays.

The sources said a total of 284 solar electricity panel boards have so far been installed in Lalpur, Bagha and Charghat Upazila as against the target to give connection of 11,000 solar electricity panel boards within 2007.

The sources said the people of the areas have directly benefited by solar energy as their working hour has been increased by 4 hours per day. They are also earning an additional Tk 40 per day.

The stable power supply also gave the women the scope to earn money by sewing and making handicrafts.

On the other hand, computers are being operated in some educational institutions and mobile phone sets are being charged with the solar electricity, the sources said.

The sources said one has to pay Tk 25 as application fee for a solar panel board, Tk 20 as membership fee, Tk 3,053 as security money for getting a connection and Tk 180 per month as energy bill.

Meanwhile, a large number of inhabitants of the remote marshy char lands of the district are showing high interest being greatly impressed with the facilities of solar electric system, the sources said.

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