Aadil Akbar Kupwara, 07/12/23:
The District Development Commissioner, Ms. Ayushi Sudan (IAS), in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) and the Department of Science & Technology, initiated a significant step towards sustainable lighting by inaugurating the distribution of Solar Street Lights (SSLs) in District Kupwara.
The SSLs, procured under DDC/BDC/PRI Grants, aim to provide decentralized illumination for public spaces, serving as an eco-friendly alternative to electric street lights. With 305 SSLs under DDC Head, 571 under BDC Head, and 6942 SSLs under PRI grants, a total of 173 Panchayats in the district will benefit from this initiative. The introduction of cutting-edge Lithium Batteries and MPPT circuits ensures a longer life for the systems.
Ms. Ayushi Sudan emphasized the importance of proper SSL installation along roadsides and public places, identified by respective DDCs/BDCs/PRIs. She underscored that SSLs should not be placed within individual household premises. The maintenance of these SSLs for the next 5 years will be undertaken free of cost by the suppliers, as outlined in the Comprehensive Maintenance Clause.
Present at the inauguration were various BDCs and PRIs, accompanied by JAKEDA officers, including Er. Maqsud Ali Banka, Executive Engineer, JAKEDA, and Sh. Muzaffar Ahmed Malik, Dy. CEO JAKEDA.
This initiative not only promotes sustainable energy use but also ensures enhanced safety and convenience for the local inhabitants, particularly during the dark winter evenings. The deployment of SSLs is set to contribute significantly to the district’s progress towards eco-friendly and energy-efficient urban infrastructure.
