Nedumkandam: Work on the enlarged Ramakkalmedu Tourism Project at the border village in Idukki district was launched by state minister M M Mani. The work on the Akshay Urja Park, the first in the country, also commenced.
Mani opened a watch tower in the shape of a great hornbill, the state bird, beside the famous sculpture of 'Kuravan-Kurathi' here. It was built at a cost of Rs 30 lakh.
Agency for Non-conventional Energy and Rural Technology (ANERT) is building the Akshaya Urja Park with the support of Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Keltron and Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB).
Small windmills and special feeder to carry electricity, besides storage batteries, will be installed. The target is to produce 3 megawatt energy in stages. The invertor to be used at the park is locally developed and will be maintained by Keltron. ANERT will look into the persistent voltage fluctuations reported from the area.
The minister said the government is planning to install solar panels atop government buildings, educational institutions, houses and private buildings as also along irrigation canals as part of its efforts to overcome the energy crisis.