The British Deputy High Commissioner, Ian Felton, visited Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) in Dharmasthala on Tuesday.

L.H. Manjunath, executive director of SKDRDP, told Business Line that he recognised the works of SKDRDP in creating better livelihoods in rural areas thus making Dakshina Kannada a model district.

Matters of mutual interest such as renewable energy, education and development were discussed with him, Manjunath said.

The delegation led by the British Deputy High Commissioner held discussions with D. Harshendra Kumar, secretary of Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara (SDM) Education Society, and Sudha Rao, chief executive officer of SDM Education Society, on the occasion.

The delegation also visited SDM Engineering College. Ian Felton held discussion with Anandnarayan, scientist at SELCO Solar Lab, situated in that college.

Manjunath said that a representative from the UK-based Ashden Foundation had visited Dharmasthala a week ago.

The representative, who made a study on the gobar gas initiatives of SKDRDP, had suggested some research and development activities in this regard.

He said that SKDRDP has implemented around 15,000 gobar gas units in 16 districts under its area of operation. Plans are afoot to implement 10,000 more such units during the current financial year, Manjunath said.

>vinayak.aj@thehindu.co.in

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