KOCHI: At a time when the state is reeling under acute power shortage, the jail authorities in the state have propped up an ambitious mantra - ‘Go Green’ - as steps have been initiated to power the jails across the state with solar energy.The project, which is set to be launched at the Poojapura Central Jail next week, will be implemented in all jails in the state in a year’s time.According to sources, the government has allotted the funds for the project. “We have received an amount of Rs 24 crore to implement the project in all jails here. The project will be first implemented in the Central Prison in Poojapura. Later, it would be extended to open prisons, district jails and sub-jails across the state within a year,” sources said.The project would be carried out by the Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Ltd (KELTRON) with the assistance of the Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Ltd (RRECL). The technical assistance for the project will be provided by the Agency for Non-Conventional Energy and Rural Technology (ANERT). “Since RRECL receives a subsidy of 30 percentage from the Central Government, we would be able to avail an additional amount of `7 crore for implementing the project,” said Alexander Jacob, Director General of Prisons. Steam kitchen will also be set up in every jail to bring the energy consumption down.“The department pay more than Rs 2 crore every year towards electricity charges. Another Rs 8-Rs 10 lakh is spent on firewood and cooking gas. We can save a huge amount by switching to solar energy. The lights and fans would work on solar power and solar panels placed on the roof would reduce the room temperature by eight degrees,” Jacob said.
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