Virtually re-enacting the theme from Shah Rukh Khan’s popular movie “Swades”, where a village without electricity decides to build its own hydropower plant, a small village in Karnataka has shown if people are determined this can be done.
Situated on the border of Dakshina Kannada and Madikeri district, Chembu is a small village which in the past did not have electricity as it is encircled by dense forests and streams, making the task of Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited to erect electric poles very difficult.
Instead of adjusting to the situation, the villagers decided to be proactive with now 80 per cent of the households producing their own electricity. With the help of metal pipes, the villagers store water from the streams and waterfalls in storage tanks. This in turn is used to turn the turbine and produce electricity. With the production varying from 1kv to 2 kv capacity, this is enough for them.
This allows them to have electricity not just 24×7 but also free of charge.
The whole system costs around Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 and the Government, both Union and State provide subsidies.
Talking to news18.com, Janardhan, a Chembu resident said: “We have lights, mixer grinder, water pump, wet grinder, refrigerator, fan, television and every necessary electrical appliance at our home now. Owning these things was a luxury for us earlier. Not because of affordability, but because of lack of electricity. We don’t want any electricity board to help us now. We have taught them a good lesson without uttering a single word, isn’t it?”
Airing similar views, Savitri disclosed: “I was fed up of living live like cavemen here. No power, no facilities to help in household chores, I would think where am I stuck up? Now I don’t have power cut issues, I never miss my TV serials, and use all comfortable devices. Though I’m living in a remote village, I am content. Thanks to the gram panchayat and all others who made this happen.”
When it rains, the villagers are able to produce electricity day and night, while during summers, they use the water for their fields in the daytime and at night generate power.
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