Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) on Wednesday signed an MoU with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), a German federal enterprise for international ties, for a 400KW solar power plant at the world-class cricket stadium in Dhurwa, the deal being a first for the state.

The proposed Rs 10-crore project, in which GIZ will only act as a consultant, has been inked under the Green Wicket campaign, a global awareness drive for an eco-friendly future. Solar power generated at the plant will, however, be used during non-match days.

The agreement was signed at the Dhurwa stadium between JSCA secretary Debasish Chakraborty and principal adviser of Green Wicket (GIZ) Joerg Gaebler, in the august presence of Michael Feiner, the German consul-general in Calcutta, and BCCI’s acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary, among others.

Speaking to this newspaper after the programme, Chakraborty explained how the project would benefit them.

“During non-match days, the average power consumption at the stadium complex is 500-1,000KW per hour depending on events held. Once the solar plant is commissioned, we will be able to reduce power use by 30-35 per cent,” the JSCA secretary said.

Chakraborty said the JSCA also planned to channel surplus solar energy to the state power board. “We won’t charge anything for that. The state can in turn waive off a portion of our electricity bill.”

The secretary said GIZ had been roped in because it was an empanelled agency to promote renewable energy under Indo-German bilateral ties.

“Also, the company has installed solar plants at 12 stadiums in Germany. In India, Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has already embraced renewable power at its Bangalore stadium. Mumbai Cricket Association, Cricket Association of Bengal and Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association are following suit,” he said.

On the project cost, Chakraborty said the provisional estimate was Rs 8-10 crore. “The JSCA will bear the expenses while GIZ will be an advisory consultant under whose jurisdiction, the project will be implemented through formal routes of tendering,” he said, adding that if all went well, the stadium would boast solar power within two and a half years from the day of commencement.

And, when would the work begin? “Soon enough. The company will do another round of survey and prepare a detailed project report,” he added.

Notably, between late last year and early this year, water harvesting structure debuted at the stadium.

Bhungru, an underground reservoir, helps JSCA maintain the Dhurwa greens using stored waste water it collected ahead of the India-Australia Test on March 16, 2017.

Source: https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/jharkhand/stadium-pads-up-for-solar-shot-188041

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