The days are not far when a ‘solar booth' can become the centre for meeting the immediate energy requirements of common people.
If the pilot project initiated by Selco Solar Light Pvt Ltd and the Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) in Dharmasthala is any indication, such booths can help charge mobile phone batteries or provide pure water to people in the area. Street vendors can take solar lanterns or batteries on rent from here.
Dr Anand P. Narayan, Head of Selco Labs at Ujire near Dharmasthala, told
The solar energy centre is housed in a 20-ft container donated by the US-based Halloran Philanthropies, and is operated by Selco and SKDRDP.
PAY AND CHARGE
Charging a mobile phone at the booth costs Rs 5. Solar lanterns and solar batteries can be leased from here for Rs 10 a day.
Most vegetable and fruit vendors take solar batteries on rent.
Mr Vasanth, who is in charge of the operations in Dharmasthala, said that there are 20 slots to charge mobile phones. On some days all the slots are full. There will be good demand for solar lanterns during local fairs, he said.
Dr Narayan said that when they installed the booth in March they did not think they would get such a positive response. “Sometimes you don't understand the need until you actually roll it out,” he said.
Asked about the footfall for the pilot project in Dharmasthala, he said 200-300 people visit the centre. Mr Vasanth said that more than 6,000 litres of purified water are being used by people during peak season.
10 MORE UNITS
Dr Narayan said that plans are afoot to roll-out this model in 10 areas by the end of the fiscal.
The focus this time will be on slums in urban areas. Plans also exist to install similar booths in some part of the Himalayas and Darjeeling, he said.