Bhopal:
After successfully manufacturing a 200 litres solar water heater to promote use of green energy, the prisoners are now trying their hand at preparing a 2,000 litre capacity to meet the needs of Central Jail in Bhopal, officials said.
"The inmates in the Bhopal central jail have successfully manufactured a 200 litres solar water heater recently for promoting green energy. Now they are trying their hands at preparing a 2000 litres solar energy driven heater," Madhya Pradesh Jail Director General of Police P L Pandey told PTI on Sunday.
Inmates are overwhelmed after successfully manufacturing 200 litres solar water heater at the cost of Rs 12,000 which was just half of the price of the ones sold in the market, he said.
Right now around 40 LPG cylinders are emptied daily for heating water used in preparing tea and meals for around 3500 prisoners in the Bhopal Central Jail, Pandey said.
"If the inmates successfully manufacture the 2,000 litres solar water heater the usage of LPG cylinders in the Bhopal Jail will come down to 30," he said.
Besides this, the DG said that women prisoners' kids will get hot water during winters from 2000 litres heater.
As the prisoners have proved their skills by manufacturing the 200 solar water heater, if this work is taken on a large scale it will fetch money to them, Pandey said.
"The sun light and temperature was good in Madhya Pradesh for solar energy," he said.
"After Bhopal we are going to promote manufacturing of solar water heater in other jails of Madhya Pradesh," he said, adding that there are around 35,000 inmates in 122 prisons in the state.
The prisoners, who are involved in making of solar water heater can use their skills and can start their own small business after their release from the jails, the DGP said.