PUNE: City-based Ground Water Surveys and Development Agency (GSDA), after successful implementation of solar-dual pump based sustainable rural water supply scheme in Raigad district, has proposed the same for all the divisions, especially at remote and rural areas, having no electricity.

The GSDA, engaged since last 38 years in the exploration, development and augmentation of groundwater resources in the State, has recently designed and developed a dual pump based rural water supply scheme. This system was introduced into a bore well to pump the water into a storage tank. Hand pump remains operational during power cuts. Submersible pump installed at the depth of 57 meters remains operational during summer, when hand pump can't function due to depletion of water level. The scheme was implemented at Ghodpapadwadi in Raigad district.

Stepping ahead, GSDA has further developed Solar Dual Pump Based Sustainable Rural Water Supply Scheme for extremely remote areas. Elaborating, director GSDA K M Nagargoje said, “GSDA and Zilla Parishad Raigad implemented the scheme at village Chavni in Raigad district on the occasion of Gudhi Padwa.”

Due to restrictions of forest department, there is no electricity supply to this village. All the houses are provided with solar-powered CFL lamps. Due to no electricity, there is no water water supply scheme. The women of the village had to fetch water from two hand pumps, he added.

Under the scheme, auto-tracking solar panels and submersible pump were installed at the village. The auto tracking arrangement tilts complete panel assembly according to the direction of sun, so that the panels receive sunlight  perpendicular to the surface throughout the day.

During the evening hours, discharge was 600 litres per hour, even when the solar panels were not receiving sunlight.

As the experiment has been successful, the proposal was sent for approval to the water supply and sanitation department of the state government.