SOLAR ENERGY EMPOWERS POLICE STATIONS

By B.S. Ramesh, The Hindu, April 21, 2005

After realising the benefits of rainwater harvesting, the Karnataka
police seem to have recognised the immense potential of solar power.

Solar cells (photovoltaic cells) have been installed in a few police
stations and all control rooms. These cells not only light up police
stations but also supply power to computers and charge wireless sets.

Most of the devices have been installed in police stations in rural areas
and in other remote places and they have brought down electricity bills.

While Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited has installed solar cells in 310
police stations, Bharat Electronics has installed them in control rooms.

The Additional Director General of Police (Telecommunication, Transport
and Modernisation), K.E. Sreenivasan, told The Hindu on Tuesday that the
solar project has been taken up at a cost of Rs. 3.4 crores.

He said 10 or 12 police stations were selected in each district. They were
in rural areas and in other remote places. Their functioning was hampered
by erratic power supply and policemen were not able to communicate with
their counterparts in other stations or work on computers because of poor
quality of power supply.

The police then hit upon the idea of installing solar cells to get over
the problem.

They identified 310 (of 815) police stations and installed solar cells.

A solar cell, powered by a solar panel and installed atop a police
station, can light up four bulbs besides charging wireless sets and
providing power to computers.

Mr. Sreenivasan said Karnataka is the first State in the country to
install solar-powered devices in police stations. He said solar-powered
traffic lights and signs have been installed at several places on national
and State highways.

This is not the first time that the police have realised the benefits of
renewable resources.

The Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation has installed equipment to
harvest rainwater in all buildings that it has constructed.