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New Delhi: An Indian
initiative is lighting up Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's
birthplace in Pakistan as part of a little publicised project
aimed at energy cooperation, including tapping alterative sources
of energy, in the subcontinent.
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has set up two power
micro-grids in Chak 313 village of Pakistan's Sahiwal district as
part of the initiative.
TERI chief R. K. Pachauri told mediapersons here that the
institute will also provide additional solar water heaters and two
desktop computers at Gah village, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's
birthplace, in Chakwal district as part of its 'Lighting a Million
Lives' campaign, which has provided electricity to over 380,000
households in rural India.
"We are essentially providing technical support to boost energy
security in Gah. We have connected several houses through smart
grids and have set up 51 solar-based domestic lighting systems in
the village since 2006. TERI has also installed 16 solar street
lighting systems and and solar heaters in all the three mosques of
the village," said Ibrahim Hafiz Rehman, director, social
transformation division, TERI.
"Pakistan is currently in the throes of a serious power problem,
with many villages deprived of energy," Pachauri said Friday.
He said a series of events over Oct 12-13 in Pakistan designed to
boost bilateral ties included "a high-level conference on energy
access in Islamabad on Oct 12 and a meeting and briefing with
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari."
The events are being organised by TERI in collaboration with
Pakistan-based organisations LEAD, Buksh Foundation, and state-run
Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB).
He said though the cost of the projects has been around
Rs.100,000, the expenses could not be compared to the goodwill and
warmth in Pakistan generated by the projects.
The Pakistan events conclude with a benefit concert on Oct 13 in
Lahore, where Indian rock band Euphoria and Pakistani band Junoon
will perform.
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