Solar power changes lifestyle of char people in Noakhali
Solar power connections have changed the lifestyle of the char people in three upazilas of Noakhali district.
Locals said they have started designing their life anew to make best use of the solar power supply.
A total of 3800 solar power connections have so far been provided to the people recently on installment basis by Grameen Shakti, a project of Grameen Bank.
However about 4200 households and shops are benefited from the device by taking parallel connections.
The solar power consumers are using fans, VCD, TV, energy bulbs at their houses and shops without facing the hassles of load shedding of the national grid.
Arju Mia, a grocery shop owner at Daserhat Bazar in Companiganj upazila, said, "I have taken an 80-watt solar power connection from Grameen Shakti at Tk 38,400 on 3 years installment basis."
Of the total, I use only 30 watts at my shop while the rest 50 watts are distributed among four other shops on monthly rentals. With the 30 watts I run two bulbs, a small fan and a cassette player, he added.
Another consumer Monayem Khan of Hatiya upazila said, "I have taken a 50-watt connection on a two-year installment basis from Grameen Shakti.
Of the total, he said, "I use 20 watts for running three bulbs in my house while the rest 20 watts are given to two neighbouring houses on a monthly payment basis as the house owners lack the ability of take solar power connection."
The solar power users were in the dark about changes in the county before taking connections of the solar power lines. But nowadays they can remain updated with latest information of the country as they can watch TV programmes including news using solar power.
Jumshed Ahamed of Hazipur village of Subarnachar upazila said, "My seven-member family and our neighbours can now enjoy TV programmes at home regularly.
The technology has also brought smile to the students as they can now study at night using the light of solar power.
The residential manager of Grameen Shakti said they have nine categories of connections and the char people can avail those on two or three years installments.
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