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Q.
How do you feel
after winning the prestigious international award and who were your
source of inspirations towards your contribution to the people ?
SPG
:
It
was a great moment for me. I remembered the State of Tripura from where
I started my career. I remembered my family, my country and especially
Sundarbans which is so dear to me and
to the people.
Source
of inspirations
Early life
:- Sri Nripen
Chakraborty, Former Chief Minister of
Tripura.
Later :-
Dr. Sankar Sen,Former Power & NES Minister of
West Bengal.
Q.There
has to be something that the British government had selected you for the
award . What is your comment on this ?
SPG
:
Innovative idea of village electrification with off-grid
small power plants and mini grid
concept. Involvement of the people in management of the
Power Plants.
Q.Though
you are settled in West Bengal , we have limited knowledge on your
contributions towards the use of Non
Conventional Energy in under developed areas like
Sunderbans . Would you please elaborate on this aspect ?
SPG
: There are 53
Islands in Sundarbans. The population of Sundarbans is 4.2 million. The
people did not have any form of electricity till 1996. I started giving
them electricity from
Non-conventional Energy Sources like Solar,
Wind, Biomass etc. At present 200,000 people
of Sundarbans are using electricity from Non-Conventional
Energy Sources. I have a target to provide electricity to at
least 2 million people of Sundarbans by 2012.
Q.How do you
feel as an expert on Non Conventional energy the prospect of
uses of Non Conventional Energy in the state of Tripura as well
as the entire North east where electricity is still a distant dream for
many ?
SPG
: Energy
Sources can play a major role in
the North Eastern Region of India. Solar Energy,Biomass
and Mini Hydel Stations may be utilized for electrification
of vast remote areas of NE Region. Proper planning is required in
this context.
Q.The
NBIRT , Sekerkote is your brain child and you are working with it since
the last two years . How do you feel now on your ambitious project ?
SPG The Institute has so far generated more than three hundred
jobs. The Institute has established its Assam
Centre at Guwahati. Gradually, the Institute is getting a
regional character. I hope it will be possible to make the Institute an
International Centre for Rural Technology Development. I have a plan to
devotemy retired life for making NBIRT as an International level
Institute.
Q.Though
the governments of both West Bengal and Tripura has taken a number of
initiatives to promote the use of Non Conventional Energy in rural areas
like solar lanterns, solar cookers and use of bio-gas ? You being an
advisor to both the two governments , are you happy with the outcome so
far ? Did the people accept
the ambitious project?
SPG
: People
are gradually accepting Non-Conventional Energy
as an alternative source. Success rate of non-conventional Energy
programme is much better in West Bengal because of lower level of
subsidy. The progamme is becoming more
and more commercial. However, in Tripura also the
programme is picking up.
Q.Use
of Non Conventional Energy is gradually gaining importance worldwide and
also many parts of India . But, in the North-Eastern part of India , the
use of Non conventional energy is still unheard of in many parts . Your
comments.
SPG
: There is no private
sector participation in the Non-Conventional Energy sector in North
Eastern Region. This is to be ensured. All the States of North Eastern
Region should have a Renewable Energy Policy like other major States
have. Only then Private sector will participate and programme will get a
boost.
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Shanti
Pada Gon Chaudhuri has recently been awarded the ‘Green Oscar’ by
the United Kingdom based Ashden Trust for his endeavour in rural
electrification in Sunderban areas through Renewable Energy /Non
Conventional Energy Resources .Gon Chaudhuri was born in