Madhya Pradesh Forest Department
 
(A Joint venture of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy Sources, Govt. of India & Govt. of Madhya Pradesh Forest Department)
SOLAR GRACE IN WILDERNESS
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Project Objective                      

Madhya Pradesh, the largest state of the country is endowed with rich and diverse forest resources. Lying between lat. 21º 04’N and long. 74º 02’ and 82º 49’E, it is a reservoir of biodiversity. The geographical area of the state is 308, 144 km2 (118, 975,sq mi) which constitutes 9.38% of the land area of the country. The forest area of the state is 95,221 km2 (36,765 sq mi) constituting 31% of the geographical area of the state and 12.44% of the forest area of the country. 

Madhya Pradesh Forest Department (MPFD) is a very big organization manned by a twenty five thousand strong force that is responsible for the management and conservation of this large area of forests. MPFD needs to reach to the remotest of those interiors of the state that no other department would probably need to. This can not be possible without quick communication. In today’s ever changing scenario and ever increasing pressures on the forest eco-systems and wildlife, quick dissemination of information is mandatory for an efficient forest management strategy. 

MPFD is not only one of the few forest departments of the country that have put modern Information Technology to extensive use in its forest management planning, implementation and monitoring but is probably a pioneer in the use of many of these technologies for better eco-system management. But there have lots of road blocks in the optimum utilization of these technologies and availability of power has probably been the biggest deterrent.

Many of the Forest Range offices (a Forest Range happens to be the key administrative unit in forestry parlance) are situated in extreme remote interiors and communication even in this WEB-age can be extremely frustrating and painful – just because of unavailability of power. Gen-sets with heavy diesel bills ad a long list of negative externalities have so far been the only solution, if that can be termed as a solution. 

In this context, Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) standalone (SPPs) appear to be a tailor made solution to make available regular power to these remotely situated forest Range offices. This proposal puts out a plan to put roof top SPVs on 100 of the remotest of these Forest Range offices and to utilize the so generated electricity for the IT facilitated communication network that incorporates use of the Web, GPS and MIS supported by an online live database. 

Besides providing electricity to Range Offices, MPFD envisages that every remote location where the Range Offices exist, a kiosk will be created which will provide wide ranging web based services to the villagers. The kiosks will be managed by the respective Range Offices and can be accessed by all for fixed time duration to be decided by the villagers, Gram Sabha or Panchayats. 

It is proposed to set up 100 nos. Solar PV Standalone type Power Packs 1 KWp at M.P. Forest Range offices spread all over Madhya Pradesh.

The power from the PV plant is natural and reliable power source. Further the quantum and availability of sunlight in M.P. is excellent to prompt the implementation of such a project

The success of such projects has already been established, as number of projects has been installed and working satisfactorily.

Ministry of New & Renewable Energy Sources, Govt of India has launched a scheme “ Implementation of Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) Programme during FY 2009-10 “ in order to:

1)       To promote the use of SPV systems for lighting and various other applications in the country

2)        To create awareness & demonstrate effective and innovative use of SPV Systems

3)       To save diesel for power generation

4)       To reduce burden on conventional electricity

Solar PV Power Packs 1 KWP Power Plant are proposed with an objective to attain following benefits:

-         Providing uninterrupted power to the Wireless sets, light points and computer for better communication.

-          Saving of precious fossil fuels.

-         Noiseless, pollution free and Eco-friendly power.

-         Saving of revenue.

-         Can work as a demonstration project for further expansion of PV technology all over the country.