Village to be developed as 'energy integrated model habitat'

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, JUNE 13. A village on the city outskirts is to be developed as an ``energy integrated model habitat'' by the Energy and Fuel Users' Association of India (ENFUSE).

Intended to familiarise the rural populace with the various renewable energy sources, Noombal village near Thiruverkadu is likely to be selected for the year-long project, the Association president, Mr. S. Ramalingam, told a press meet here today.

Work on the project for which the ENFUSE proposes to seek assistance from other like-minded organisations is expected to begin in four months. Spread on an area of about two square kilometre, Noombal village has a population of about 3,000 people.

Under the project, the selected village would be provided with wind mills for pumping water to an overhead tank from the community well and the homes, with biogas for cooking and lighting purposes. Similarly, the residents would be introduced to solar energy devices used for cooking, lighting, water heating and other applications.

Mr. Ramalingam said the success of such model villages would encourage other people to opt for renewable energy sources. The selected village would also be the testing ground for the manufacturers to test their products in ``real-life situation''. Renewable sources of energy were expected to take a share of about 60 per cent of the total energy usage in the next 50 years, he said.

ENFUSE, advocating the philosophy of industrial development with eco-friendly energy inputs for achieving sustainable development, he added, had planned a series of programmes as part of its golden jubilee celebrations.

Starting with a one-day inter-school quiz on June 15 on `Energy and Environment', the celebrations would comprise a two-day seminar on `Energy and Environment - Current Status and Future Challenges' on June 16 and 17 in Chennai.

An exhibition would be conducted at Valluvar Kottam in which among other things, a clinic on optimal usage of LPG at homes would be organised. In addition, free emission checks for four and two-wheelers would be also conducted.

The golden jubilee celebrations would be inaugurated by the Union Minister for State for Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Mr. M. Kannappan. The Health and Electricity Minister, Mr. N. Veerasamy, academicians and top officials of oil companies were expected to participate in the function.

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