Solar project brings hope to char people

Installation of a solar power plant has changed the lives of thousands of vulnerable people living in remote char areas of the Teesta River basin at Showlmari in Vhotmari union under Kaliganj upazila of Lalmonirhat district.

Around 15,000 landless and vulnerable people live in the char areas of the union, who are mostly erosion-hit. Due to the absence of minimum basic amenities, the residents of the union said they were suffering a lot.

Estranged from the upazila and district headquarters, the residents said they have to traverse long char areas and cross the river to seek basic services from the government authorities.

The people depend on fishing in the river, seasonal farming on the char lands, and rearing cattle for their livelihood. They have to fight with nature often during floods, winter, and draughts for their survival.

UP member Abdul Matin said he tried several times to do something beneficial for the people. But the absence of road communications hindered the possibilities.

After living a distressed life for years, the residents of the union have finally got something to smile about last year when a company, Intraco Solar Power Ltd, set up a 30-megawatt power plant in the char areas under the government’s electric power supply extension scheme.

The company initially found it difficult to bring the materials and pieces of equipment for the site area as there were no direct road communications.

They erected two bailey bridges, eighteen culverts to smoothen roads, and a four-kilometre-long embankment to prevent river erosion.

The work is going fast to bring the remote villages under power supply setting up electric polls from 3-4 kilometres away. Many of the char dwellers are engaged in construction works and getting wages to support their families.

Intraco Solar Power Plant Ltd’s Director Operation Abdul Halim said hailed the government for setting up a solar power plant in the remote place.

“The generated power from the plant would be added to the central grid. Power supply from the plant would change the socio-economic life creating job opportunities for the vulnerable people living in remote areas. The operation of the power plant will start from September this year,” he added.

The project also led to infrastructural development in the area, he said, adding that roads and culverts were made to connect the area with upazila and district headquarters. The workers are working in the site areas and getting financial benefits, which they could not imagine earlier.

Villagers hoped small mills and factories would be set up in the areas with access to electricity creating job opportunities for them.

Deldar Munshi, an elderly man, who lived in the char, said the power plant has already brought some benefit.

Daily labourers living in the char got fewer work opportunities earlier to support their families. They are getting now financial benefit as most of them are engaged in the site works, said char resident Bulu Mia.

The Deputy Commissioner of Lalmonirhat district, Abu Jafor, hoped that the solar power plant would serve a great role in improving the economic condition of the people in remote char areas of the district.