 Over ten thousand people gathered on Saturday evening to witness a rare spectecle. Lights!
As Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar commissioned a solar power station set up by the Kotak Urja of Karnataka, each eye lighted up, as the ceremony decks came alive. A hurrah broke out. So did many a tear. For most, it "was unbelievable"
The tiny hamlet of Sikandarpur, populated by Masahars, the poorest of the poor caste in Bihar, for once saw, what it could do for them. Many had seen it. But never in their own homes. They had wished for it. It did come, but
more than 60 years a after the country was declared free.
Men, women, children, in their ragged, weather beaten best had trooped from all corners of this little known asterix of a village, which had dotted revenue records, never to be visited even by a block officer. The Chief Minister broke tradition, to become the first, trulyVIP to walk into their dark lives and wreak magic with the subtle push of a small button exactly at 6.30 pm. That small button indeed made a huge difference. At the very moment, Sikandarpur village in Jamsaut panchayat was connected to the world.
Suryamukhi,is what the vil lagers christened the solar bulb. The phrase, a subtle, unknowing, hardly conscious enumeration spelt all that they had longed for: The sunrays now were playing in their rooms. "The heavens have been brought down.
The sun shines in our home, even at dark", an unbelieving, stunned, Rampravesh Manjhi gushed. Nitish Kumar promised more, while calling for patience. "Every home sans electric supply in this state will be linked to solar power. The experiment has already begun and the government would assess different tools and technologies developed by different firms to tap solar energy, with an eye on cost and efficiency",he said.
Kumar siad harnessing of solar energy is the only solution to the power crises today. While all other resources like coal, petroleum and hydroelectricity were exhaustible or limited, solar energy is inexhaustible and hence called " Akshay urja'. Describing the power situation in Bihar, the CM said the State had a capacity to generate only 125 megawatt of electricity that was much less than the requirement.Thoughthe capacities of power generation at Kanti, Barauni and Nabinagar were being increased, Bihar still required alternative sources. Solar powr was a good replacement", he added.
He informed, that besides, KotakUrja, the offers made by Tata Energy Research Institute and some other firms were also being assessed for the purpose.
The solar plant installed at Sikandapur will also provide other amenities like potable water, community TV, telephone boothand mobile charging points. The CM also gave away appointment letters for Vikas Mitras, documents for national old age pension and homes under Indira Awas Yojna.
Speaking on the occasion, Patliputra MP Dr Ranjan Prasad Yadav said more solar plants would be installed in many other villages under his constituency to help children pursue their studies. Danapur MLA Asha Sinha and Fatuha MLA Arun Manjhi also addressed the function.
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