Hosangabad:
Little will a deer quenching his thirst from a water hole in Madhya Pradesh's Satpura Tiger Reserve know that it was actually pumped with a solar-powered device. The picturesque tiger reserve takes pride in using clean energy on its campus for electricity and water supply.
Satpura Tiger Reserve, set up in 2001, now has a total of 110 camps running on green energy. Certain rules prohibiting high-voltage transmission lines in the area have made solar power indispensable.
"Dam areas are gradually receding, and animals like deers get stuck in the mud while going to drink water. So creating a water hole in a safe area is must for them. We are creating them by using solar pumps and artificial lakes," said R P Singh, Field Director, Satpura Tiger Reserve.
Tourists visiting this scenic reserve are equally impressed. "The solar set up is a very good initiative. I feel I should get a solar geyser installed back home as well and save money," said Bhavna Kushwaha.
Panna and Kanhais are the other tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh which use solar power. The state forest department boasts of being the pioneers in using solar energy in tiger reserves, and is hopeful that other states will follow their path, and make such reserves more environment-friendly.