The Haryana Government has taken a
lead in installation of solar water heating systems in social sector institutions as an innovative initiative aimed at benefitting socially deprived sections of the society.
The scheme has drawn applause from all quarters including the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
Giving this information, an official spokesman said that the objective of the programme is to popularize the use of solar water heating systems and conserve electricity and conventional fuels in water heating applications on one hand and to take the latest technologies to the deprived sections of the society on the other.
Under the Scheme, solar water heating systems are installed in socially oriented institutions with 90 per cent financial assistance.
The popularity of the scheme can be gauged from the fact that Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (HAREDA) has already installed solar water heating systems of 42,800 lpd capacity at a cost of approx. Rs. 1.00 crore against a target of 40,000 lpd for the current financial year.
The spokesman said that social sector institutions are working for the welfare of the under privileged and deprived sections of the society and therefore, the State Government has decided to equip them with solar geysers so that their inmates get hot water for their cooking, bathing and washing requirements in the winters.
Under the scheme, socially orientated institutions like working women hostels, Orphanages, Deaf and Dumb Centres, Creches, Old age homes, Nari Niketans, Bal Niketans, Sports Hostels, Charitable Institutes, natural treatment centres.