Sun to light up all police stations in state

The Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) has been appointed the nodal agency for the project.

A Bangalore-based firm — Kotak Urja Private Limited — has been assigned the task to install the solar panels in these 340 police stations. Coming at a cost of Rs 2.59 lakh each,the panels will cost Rs 8.82 crore altogether.

The officials of UPNEDA said these 340 police stations have been identified across over 20 districts — including Fatehpur (19),Siddharth Nagar (17),Banda (16),Gonda (15),Chandauli (14),Mainpuri (12),Sonebhadra (11),Basti (15) and Chitrakoot (8). Officials believe that power availability will support computerisation and increase efficiency.

Under an ongoing project of National Crime Records Bureau,computers have already been installed at over 800 police stations across the state. “The state Home Department is funding the project and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is providing a subsidy on it. The state has released the fund,” said Akhilesh Kumar,Secretary and Chief Project Officer,UPNEDA.

The UPNEDA officials said the capacity of each solar power panel will be 1,100 watts,which will charge 700-watt battery every day. The panels will be based on off-grid application. The electricity generated can be used in one confined building area and will be transmitted to other place. For the first five years after installation,the Kotak Urja Private Limited will maintain the set-up at every police station. The station staff will be trained to operate and maintain the set-ups after that period.