RAJSHAHI, March 22, 2021 (BSS) – Solar irrigation panel has been adding
extra power to the national grid lessening the gradually mounting pressure on
fossil fuel in Rajshahi Barind area.
Besides, the farmers are seen irrigating their croplands through using
the solar panel at less cost.
Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), the ever-largest
irrigation-providing state-owned entity in the country’s northwest region,
has installed a solar power-based irrigation technology connecting a deep-
tube-well at Habaspur area under Godagari upazila in the district.
Process of installing the same technology in two more deep tubewells is
progressing fast in the Barind area, said Engineer Abdur Rashid,
Superintending Engineer of BMDA.
Engineer Rashid said they connected the solar panel in the deep-tube-
well in July last year. Earlier, the deep-tube-well was being operated
through the power of Rural Electrification Board (REB).
But at present, 19 kilowatts solar power is being generated there per
hour and 11 kilowatts of those are being used for irrigation to around 100
bigha of farming fields. The rest power is being added to the national power
grid through REB’s net metering system.
Eventually, all the generated powers are added to the national grid
during the off-season, Engineer Rashid added.
Chairman of Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Muhammad
Alauddin visited the Habaspur irrigation deep tube-well yesterday expressing
his satisfaction over witnessing the activities.
He urged the BMDA officials to expand the technology to other parts of
the water-stressed area for the welfare of the farmers in general.
Prof Ziur Rahman Khan from the department of Electrical and Electronics
in Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and GIZ Project
Coordinator Modabbir Bin Anam accompanied the SEDA Chairman during his visit.
SEDA Chairman Alauddin also held a meeting with BMDA officials
discussing and devising ways and means of how to expand the technology.
BMDA Superintending Engineers Dr Abul Kashem and Shamsul Huda and
Executive Engineer Zinnuraine Khan, among others, were present at the
meeting.