RENEWABLE ENERGY – SATPUDA TIGER LANDSCAPE

CAT has been working for conserving and protecting the tiger and tiger habitats and reducing the tiger-human conflict. CAT has taken the initiative to work at grass root level to provide renewable energy facilities to the locals in the villages of Bhagwanpur and Ghatpendari, Maharashtra. Bhagwanpur is a rehabilitation site for Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve and Ghatpendari is a rehabilitation site for Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra.

CAT is working with Satpuda Foundation (SF) for this project, along with SELCO Foundation. While Satpuda Foundation will help implement the project on the ground, SELCO Foundation has provided with renewable solutions.

The quality of power supply is a major issue in this area. Renewable energy interventions will not only help them with facilitating with the basic requirements and drinking water but will also augment their livelihood. This will also ensure that the un-requisite projects, in the name of development, don’t come up in the tiger reserves/habitats and corridors. This also ensures that there is no fragmentation in the tiger habitats and corridors. At the same time, it also mitigates the tiger-human conflict and road kills.

Under the project, installation of Mini grid solar project at Ghatpendhari (rehabilitation site for Pench Tiger Reserve) and solar water pump system at Bhagwanpur, (rehabilitation site for Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve) Maharashtra, is on-going. We have currently provided 2 lights and 1 Mobile charging service to 76 houses at Ghatpendhari. 5 HP solar water pump system has been installed at Bhagwanpur. This will augment the agricultural yield and help in generating surplus which will enhance the livelihood of the locals. Local residents have also been trained for monitoring and operating the system independently.

Through this renewable energy project, reliable supply of power will push the most marginalised communities out of the poverty and vulnerability trap by making them asset owners and providing them with better opportunities in terms of alternate livelihoods, education, health and possibly a better living environment

Inauguration of the Kiran Prabha Solar mini-grid by Shri Bhagwan, PCCF Wildlife, Nagpur
with Mr. Debi Goenka, Mr. Kishore Rithe, Senthil and Bendon Mendonca

Interaction with the villagers