'Lighting' remote villages

The remote villages in Chikmagalur have been plagued for decades by a lack of roads and connection to the state power grid.

But things are changing quietly by installing turbines to the local water bodies to provide electricity directly to homes in villages.  Ratnakar has proved that electricity can be produced using water from a small stream.

The villagers now have free, uninterrupted power, and the change is palpable. They can now charge cellphones at home, while TV sets and other electronic goods are slowly making their way into villages. Turbo hydroelectricity unit has started producing electricity at Jayapura.

Ratnakar has started producing electricity in a small stream which flows at Sauthekuni in Kallugudde using five kilo watt water wheel. He said that water falling from four feet height is used for the production of electricity. Temporary check dams have been constructed in the area to supply water to the water wheel to produce electricity. The produced electricity can be used for running two computers, two TV sets, 20 lights at a time.

Farmers who have water facilities can produce electricity using turbines and become empowered in the production of electricity. By producing the electricity independently, the demand for electricity will also reduced.

The electricity can be supplied without electric poles inside the forest to the remote villages.
Such kind of electricity units are useful in Naxal infested areas,he says.
The turbines are designed for remote areas where it is not feasible to provide electricity through transmission lines.