State to revive energy edu park lying defunct for over a decade
Times of India | 30 September 2024
Kolkata: The West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency (WBREDA) has planned to revive the energy education park opposite Science City on EM Bypass. The park, which was set up in 2004 on an acre to raise awareness about sustainable energy use, has been lying abandoned for about a decade.
Besides in Kolkata, WBREDA had established seven more energy education parks at different townships across the state, officials said.
The park, featuring different models and exhibits on renewable energy, was built at an estimated cost of Rs 2 crore. Though it drew school-goers and other people in large numbers for about 8 to 9 years, it turned non-functional later. It was shut in 2013 due to lack of maintenance and non-upgrade of the solar-powered models, govt sources said.
“A plan will be chalked out for the revival,” said a senior state govt official. The authorities have planned to conduct a fresh topographical survey and soil testing of the land for preparing a revival plan with new models.
The energy education park had various kinds of interesting models and simulations. There was a solar house, where everything from lights to fans used to run on solar energy. It also had a canteen, where only solar cookers were used. Besides an electric bicycle, it also offered solar car ridesto children. It featured energy plants as well.
Solar power experts like Santi Pada Gon Chaudhuri were elated with the revival news.