Agartala:
The Tripura government is preparing to illuminate every rural market in the state with solar lights.
Deputy chief minister Jishnu Dev Varma, who also holds the Power portfolio, said that the government will brighten up every rural market in the state under the Gramin Bazar Alok Jyoti Prakalp scheme and will install 15,000 solar lights in rural markets.
“15 thousand solar street lights will be installed in the rural markets of the state at the cost of Rs 40 crore. This will keep the rural markets illuminated after dusk, making it convenient for both buyers and sellers”, the minister said, while inaugurating 108 solar streets lights in the Ganganagar Bazar area of Dhalai district under the said scheme at the cost of Rs 21.60 lakh, on Sunday.
The project will be implemented in a phased manner in 58 blocks across the state. About 1291 small and big markets will be included under this project and a total of 174 Solar Street Lights have been installed in 9 markets.
Stating that the project was funded by the state government and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Dev Varma said, “Due to the lack of light at night, the rural markets often sit just once or twice a week and that too only during the day. As a result, various products of the farmers are not sold in sufficient quantity and they suffer economically.”
According to the minister, due to the solar lights project, marketing activities have increased in rural areas, which in turn is helping in social development as well as substantial agro-based rural economic activities.
Dev Varma further said that the government had prioritised improving the socio-economic status of the people living in tribal areas. “In the aspirational blocks, emphasis has been given on 100 days of work. The government is sincere towards developing remote areas such as Ganganagar,” he said.