Thiruvananthpuram:
In what is being billed as a pioneering initiative, all 52 jails in Kerala will now go green with the state government undertaking a Rs 25.50 crore solar power project. The pilot project was launched by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at the central prison on Wednesday.
All jails will now use solar power extensively, rather than grid power, which is being used for lighting and pumping of water from the jails' own source.
Additional Director General of Police (Jails) Alexander Jacob told Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) that the project had been cleared by the 13th Finance Commission and was being funded by the union power ministry.
"In less than four months, all 52 jails will be ready with their own solar power," said Mr Jacob, the brain behind this innovative project.
Jacob became famous last year when he launched a sales outlet in the prison compound sells chapatti and chicken curry at Rs 25 per plate.
He installed a chapatti-making machine and increased the production of broiler chicken from the poultry farm in the jail.
The jail department would be saving Rs 40 lakh by using solar cooking facilities instead of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders when the green initiative becomes functional in the next four months.