What is there inside India’s first Bio Village Solar Hamlet set up in Tripura village?

Kharansingh Kami Para, a far-flung hamlet situated amidst green patches in Tripura’s Gomati district has witnessed a sea change after the village in which around 60 families are living have connected with solar microgrids for uninterrupted power and drinking water.

The rural hamlet is situated around 80 km from the capital city Agartala, which has recently been converted into Bio Village Solar Hamlet. Locals residing in the village are mostly engaged in farming.

Despite having an electricity connection the problem of electricity remains unsolved because of the geographical prospects and hilly terrains.

Santi Sadhan Jamatia who is a 20-year-old boy has said that the village had to face electricity issues and drinking water as the village is situated in a far-flung area.

“We have electricity but because of the hilly terrains and other issues, we had to face issues. During the rainy season if once electricity is gone then it will come after seven days and then we became isolated from the rest of the state. We may not have fast or good internet services communication through the phone is important and for which charging of phone is necessary. So now after installation of solar microgrid, we have uninterrupted power 24x7”, he told India Today NE.

While another Kartik Jamatia a resident of this village said, “We get electricity around 7 years back. But it’s not a good connection because of the hilly area. Sometimes we have to stay without electricity. It was very disturbing. By getting these solar microgrids people are happy and we get 24-hours uninterrupted power”      

The village is not only connected with a solar grid but also declared as a bio village. Perhaps this is the first village in the country known as ‘Bio Village Solar Hamlet’.

Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma of Tripura has inaugurated Bio Village Solar Hamlet yesterday, November 5.
The concept of bio village was there already in India. But the Tripura government has added bio village and solar hamlet together and this is known as Bio village 2. 

In a simple bio village, there is only organic farming but in this village, the state government has put different components like encouraging organic farming, livestock, and teaching villagers how to grow mushrooms.  

“We have installed solar pumps for double cropping. A water filtration farm for pure and clean was also installed as during the survey we found that people in this area were suffering from water-related diseases as people were having water from the stream and canal. This is what is known as bio village 2 and nowhere in India I think it has been done like this”, the minister said. 

This is project was developed indigenously by the Tripura government under the science and technology department.
For the economic boost in the rural hamlets, the department has also installed street solar lights.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also acknowledged it and mentioned it in his Maan Ki Baat.

“This is a unique effort. In our government we think that the last must come first and this is how development happens”, the minister added.

The government has installed solar pumps, more than 7 solar microgrids for uninterrupted power supply, solar street lights, a community solar drinking water plant, Bio Gas plant that has also been distributed among the villagers.