Tribal schools of Andhra to get solar power

VIJAYAWADA: The Tribal Welfare Department of state will soon equip all the tribal schools in the state with solar street light at a cost of Rs 16.50 crores.

According to Gandham Chandrudu, Director, Tribal Welfare Department, there are 743 tribal welfare schools across the State. The decision to install solar lights will provide safe environment for the students.Chandrudu said,“The matter was discussed with project officers who explained the need for facilitating the schools with solar lights. Eight lights will be installed in each school.”

The Principal Secretary has approved the project and it is estimated that there will be 5,944 lights to be installed in the schools.

The state government has also issued an order regarding the estimated cost of the project which is about Rs 16.50cr, the cost of project was estimated by the Non-Conventional Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NEDCAP) Limited.

Of the total 743 tribal schools, 196 are located in Visakhapatnam, 142 in East Godavari, 85 in Vizianagaram, 75 in Srikakulam, 42 in West Godavari, 41 in Prakasam and 35 in Guntur district.

NEDCAP will also take up work to install solar lights in the remaining institutions that are located in Ananthapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, Krishna, Kurnool and Nellore districts.