KHAIRPUR:About 90% villages in Khairpur district have installed solar systems on self-help basis to get electricity as the government electricity comes one hour a day and two hours in the night. A family per home has invested Rs20,000 to Rs50,000 on self-help basis to get uninterrupted solar power supply ad is passing life in better way as compared to the government electricity.
The power load shedding in these villages is being carried out with full might as SEPCO have been give free hand to bring miseries of load shedding on the hapless people.
The business, social and education activities, which were badly affected due to SESCO power outages, have got some relief as people have installed solar systems on their own. “We have installed solar systems by borrowing money as Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government has failed to provide any relief from the power outages,” a villager, Noo Mohammad Khuhro told PPI. He said that solar system is cheaper than government electricity and we will now install more solar panels to get more electricity. He said that the government should also invest in solar energy and provide aid to the villagers so that they could install solar panels.
The inhabitants in the villages have achieved a great dream of solar light in the nights as they feel comfortable to do their works in the night like caring cattle, cutting grass and enabling their children to read and write. They have also become able to charge their mobile phones and other low power consuming devices through solar energy.
The womenfolk also do embroidery work in the nights and earn handsome money. The men also do carpeting work that adds to the household income. Streets in the village shine in the night, helping men to move freely.
A social worker, Nusrat, a resident of village Dilawar Khuho told PPI: “Solar power is sustainable for energy consumption for rural areas, as it is renewable till sun exists. It does not need oil or another thing to run. It is one time investment and gives long-time production. Solar power can be used to light bulbs, run motors and fans. It could also be used to heat water.”
She said: “They are reliable to operate without any hindrance; however, some maintenance is required for its batteries. Solar panel energy rise when panel directly face the sun. Solar power can also help to reduce global warming. It is expected that the world’s oil reserves will finish in the future, while solar energy is infinite and can be achieved for long time. The solar energy has become a viable and cost-saving means of generating energy. One major advantage of solar energy is that once the initial investment is recovered, the energy is mostly free.”
Solar power supply systems are the only opportunity for the villagers to receive cost effective and sustainable provision of electricity as the country is energy-starved. Hence, use of solar panels is must to provide relief to the villagers as they are sustainable, cheaper and environmentally friendly.
In Khairpur, the power load shedding up to 20 hours during 24 hours is being carried out in all villages of 86 union councils of the district that include Razi Dero Kacho, Noor Pur, Sagyoon, Ripri, Kamal Dero, Khemtia, Jadowahan and Belharo.
However, at least 6 hours load shedding is carried out in towns including Gambat, Agra, Sobhodero, Ranipur, Padidan, Tando Masti, Khairpur, Mirwah, Kot Diji, Kingri, Sobho Dero, Kot Banglu, Faiz Ganj and Nara. The people of cities have also installed solar power systems.
In these towns, business, education and social activities are badly affected due to load shedding. People pass life in trouble as the towns are warmer than villages. They live in congested houses with no trees and suffer too much due to warm weather. Business, as well as social activates, are badly affected due to lingering power outages since last 15 years. However, villages have some relief due to more trees. The temperature in villages is also low due to plantation of trees.
Imran Khan during political campaigns on containers and election drive have made big claims of resolving power outages issue, but there is not progress yet as power outages continues to hit people hard, making their lives miserable.
Pakistan has a great potential to solarise rural areas as its geography is most conducive to exploitation of solar energy. The country is 6th most fortunate country in the world with sunshine availability of 8-10 hours per day over much of the plans of Sindh, Balochistan and Southern Punjab. Alternative Energy Board could also make investment in this regard.
The solar panels should also be installed in schools and clinics to provide education and healthcare services comfortably. This could ensure well-educated and healthy people. Few rural households have access to electricity, as most of them still rely on traditional fuels, such as charcoal, firewood and kerosene. People do not have money to purchase power panels as most the population of this area passing life as hand to mouth.
Solar energy is a renewable energy source that provides numerous benefits to everyday life. These benefits include helping to grow the food we eat, influencing our weather patterns and allowing us to generate clean and renewable electricity with the help of solar panels.