Rs 4.4 crore for distributing solar lanterns in Uttarakhand

NEW DELHI: Seeking to lighten up the houses in rain-ravaged Uttarakhand, the Centre today allocated Rs 4.4 crore for distributing 20,000 solar lanterns in the state.

"The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has sanctioned central financial assistance of Rs. 4.4 crore for the distribution of 20,000 solar lanterns to the people in the flood affected areas of Uttarakhand," a government release said.

"The ministry will be meeting the full cost of solar lanterns to be distributed and each lantern costs approximately Rs 2,200. This project will be implemented by the Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency, Dehradun," it said.

Soon after the flash floods hit the state on June 16, New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah instructed officials to enquire from the state government about the ways in which the ministry could help the affected people.

"The ministry, in turn, upon receiving a request from the government of Uttarakhand for providing solar lanterns, issued approval for the same immediately," it said.

These solar lanterns would provide lights in the far-flung and badly affected areas which have been totally cut-off from the grid and where the repair of grid lines would take several months.