An inimitable worldwide attempt instigated by the state will soon bring electricity supply to the 1,500 villagers living on the Elephanta Island, well known for the World Heritage Elephanta Caves complex.
On 13 may 2010, due to this unique venture of the state government, and a Pune organization, with Japanese and Australian participation - in the golden jubilee year of the state, the villagers of Rajbander village on the island, 11 km from the Arabian Sea, will soon have regular electricity for the first time.
An official stated that the villagers would be provided solar powered lamps and electric ports for charging mobile phones
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the Science and Technology Park, Pune have jointly initiated the Rs 1 crore project.
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The island’s villagers will get electricity supply for the first time |
While MMRDA will foot 10 per cent of the cost, 40 per cent will be borne by the STP, which has engaged a leading Japanese designer, and the remaining 50 percent will come from the Australian government.
STP has entered into a technical collaboration with an Australian company, Solar Gem Company, and engaged the renowned Japanese designer, Omura.
On the one hand, Solar Gem will provide four solar power lamps to each household in Rajbander; on the other hand, Omura will help in designing unique electricity poles that would suit the architecture of the caves on the world heritage. It will protect them from the menace of the monkeys living in the forests of the two square kms island.
MMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad stated that at the moment the villagers are dependent on very limited electricity supply through diesel generators. The project will be completed very soon and would help transform the lives of the people on the island.
The island - and the world famous Elephants Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site - are frequented by nearly a million tourists, around 40 percent of them foreigners.
Despite the fact that the island is in secure propinquity to the country’s commerce centre, the natives have lived in close to entire obscurity all these years. It has not been connected to the Mumbai power grid as it is separated by a vast stretch of the sea.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
