On Thursday, SC Mohapatra, the Odisha Chief Secretary, inaugurated a solar-based energy system at a government-run highschool in Narayanpatna district’s Ganjam district.
Narayanpatna highschool in Kankia panchayat, is one of 535 government-run high schools. Ganjam district administration has taken up the challenge to install the solar energy facility at a cost of Rs 9 crore.
Sources said that the first phase would see the installation of solar panels in the five-tiered high schools, which have had their infrastructure completed. Sources say that the 5T initiative has already developed 366 high schools.
Anu Garg, additional chief secretary and 5T VK Pandian secretary to chief minister, was reportedly with the chief secretary of the high school. He reportedly praised district administration for their innovative steps in making the district schools more environmentally friendly.
“The installation of solar panels continues in full swing. Thirty-three high schools have been covered with solar energy already. The rest will be done in the next three month,” said Vijay Amruta Kulange (Collector Ganjam). He said that the expenditures for the project would be covered by the Corporate Social Responsibility funds of different companies as well as the contribution of Mo Schools.
He stated that the solar energy generation units would be installed at schools to supply 2 and 4 kw of energy in small and large high schools.
Shinde Dattatraya Bhausaheb (project director, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), said that the solar energy will illuminate the smart class, four lights and four fans, interactive panel with e-library, laboratory, verandah, toilets, and verandahs of each school.
The project will not only make the schools more energy-efficient, but it will also raise awareness among students about the benefits of using renewable energy. The schools will be able to lower their power bills.
Interactive panels installed in smart classes and computers in e-libraries have caused an increase in electricity bills at schools. These interactive panels are now available in all of the high schools that were transformed. He said that the solar energy project would help schools reduce their power bills as well as provide uninterrupted power supply.
