Solar energy to light up Poojappura prison

Now on, when the city plunges into darkness for half-an-hour every evening, the Central Prison at Poojappura will shine bright. The pilot project of installing solar energy systems in state prisons will be  commissioned in Poojappura on Wednesday.

“The solar energy system, with a capacity of 129 kilowatts, is just one unit short of the daily demand which is around 130 kilowatts,” said B Pradeep, Superintendent of the Central Prison. This include compound lighting, lighting in two blocks, fans in one block and the activities of solar steam cooking and water boiling, chappathi making and water pumping. It was implemented at a cost of Rs 7.6 crore.

“Moreover, as the power consumption by the prison from the KSEB has almost been reduced to zero the energy saved could be supplied to the public,” Pradeep said.

The solar energy panels have been installed on the main block, the 11th block which is adjacent to the administrative block, the 6th block and around the tower which is the landmark of the main building of the prison. The commissioning of the solar energy system has also been in a lightning speed. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy laid the foundation-stone for the project in August. After that foundation-stones for solar energy systems were laid at the Open Prison in Nettukaltheri and Special Sub-Jail, Kunchalummood.

Prisons Department is the first in setting up solar energy systems in the state and probably it is the first time in the country that a department is becoming fully green.

In the next phase, it will be installed in prisons of Kozhikode and Thrissur and then would be extended to prisons in other districts. “The plan is to set up the solar energy systems in 52 prisons of the state,” said Alexander Jacob, ADGP Prisons.

The solar energy systems in prisons were carried out at a cost of Rs 25.5 crore with the allocation of Rs 52 crore by the 13th Finance Commission for the prisons in the state.

The solar energy system will be inaugurated by Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan at a function to be held in the prison on Wednesday evening. Power Minister Aryadan Mohammed will be the chief guest. V Sivankutty MLA, will preside over the function.