PUNE: A 120 kWp capacity solar plant, which will be the first such plant in Wagholi, was inaugurated on Wednesday. The Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana (BJS), an NGO, has installed the solar plant. The plant is stationed at Wagholi Educational Rehabilitation Centre (WERC)  which is an institute for tribal students from various parts of Maharashtra. 

The plant was inaugurated by Kishor Shinde, General Manager (Solar), Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA). It is expected that this solar plant will cover 40 per cent of the power requirements and save up to Rs 12 lakh per year and will reduce 175.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year. The plant will generate up to 40 lakh units over the life of the system.

MEDA has provided 30 per cent central financial assistance to BJS under the 

‘Grid-connected Rooftop and Small Power Plants Programme’. This plant has been installed by Kalpa Power Pvt Ltd for generating solar power, under the same scheme. Arun Nahar of BJS, said, ‘’Being an NGO, it is important to look for projects that help save money and utilise the savings for the social cause and installing such a project is a matter of great joy for us.”

WERC has been hosting tribal students from various parts of Maharashtra since 1996. 287 tribal boys and 653 boys and girls from farming families are hosted at WERC currently for their education. The institute and BJS claim that the plant will ensure that the students are provided with clean, cheap and regular electricity and contribute to their education.