A pledge to Mother Nature: Mukesh Kumar
Three stations of All India Radio in Kargil have become the first radio stations in India to run on solar energy in keeping with Government of India’s vision to promote the use of renewable energy.
DDG (E) of AIR, Kargil, Mukesh Kumar said that this is great gift for the environment and the nation. “This is Swachhta Hi Seva in the real sense!” he added. He was speaking at an event organised to celebrate Swatchata Abhiyan and inaugurate the installation of solar plants at AIR and Doordarshan in the frontier district of Kargil.
Mr. Kumar said that Ladakh is a cold desert and has been affected by human-induced global warming. “The use of technologies such as Diesel Generator (DG) sets disrupts the ecology of this region. All India Radio Kargil is making an effort to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases through the use of renewable energy for its daily activities,” he said.
He added that AIR stations at Drass, Tai Suru and Padum, where the primary source of energy to operate the Radio stations was Diesel Generators and DMC Kargil, are using solar energy as its primary source of electricity. “3 numbers of, 5kW Solar Photovoltaic Rooftop plants has replaced 62.5 KVA DG sets at each of the AIR stations and 2 numbers of, 5kW solar Photovoltaic Rooftop Solar plants has replaced a 25 KVA DG set at DMC,” he informed.
In total, 242.5 KVA generated from different DG sets has been replaced by solar photovoltaic (SPV) rooftop systems. In addition, the Very Low Power Televisions (VLPTVs) of Doordarshan at different locations of Kargil that were non-functional are now in operation with the installation of a 5kW SPV rooftop system. The switch to renewable energy technology is expected to reduce the annual consumption to the tune of 4 lakh litres of diesel and in effect reduce greenhouse gas emission of 400 tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere.
Mukesh Kumar also pointed out that now the radio stations in Drass, Tai Suru and Padum have uninterrupted electricity. “Earlier the FM Transmission from these stations used to run for six hours. Now, they will be in operations for 24 hours. This part of AIR Kargil efforts to protect the environment, while tirelessly serving the people of the district. Next, we will work to make AIR, Kargil the first High Power Transmission station to run on renewable energy technology by replacing the 1MW DG Set with a solar power plant as well as the upcoming projects of FM10 Kw and TV station 10 Kw at Hombotingla to run from Solar Power.” he added.
The event was attended by Programme Head AIR Kargil Sonam Angchuk, Assistant Engineers DK Gupta and NK Sharma, along with officers and family members from radio colony, Kargil.
Earlier all the Staff members and DDG (E) Mukesh Kumar cleaned the premises of the Station and took Swatchatta Pledge.
Source : RNU AIR Kargil