Jorhat, May 11: Don Bosco Higher Secondary School at Baghchung here has achieved several academic achievements over the years but now it has accomplished a stellar environmental feat.

It has become the first major school in Assam to completely power itself with solar energy. The initiative was undertaken with funds allotted by chief minister Tarun Gogoi.

The administrator of the school, Fr Cyriac Manipadam, told The Telegraph that the idea was floated in 2014 and implementation began in 2015, as part of the year-long birth bicentenary celebrations of John Bosco -the founder of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

"We thought on the occasion of our founder's 200th birth anniversary we should undertake something notable and pioneering that could be a role model for society," Fr Manipadam said.

He said the school administration submitted the proposal to the chief minister when he visited the school on February 18 last year. Gogoi agreed immediately and sanctioned Rs 50 lakh.

Manipadam said the government released the first instalment in March 2015. A construction committee, led by an additional deputy commissioner and comprising school and government officials, was formed and work began.

The project was completed last month and the total power requirement for the sprawling school campus - around 40kW daily - is being fulfilled.

Around 100 batteries are charged from 160 solar panels fitted on the roof of the school building. The school has not disconnected the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) connection yet and it is being kept on standby. The school also has generators.

The school's monthly electricity bill during summer is around Rs 40,000. So, the project cost of Rs 50 lakh will be recouped after a decade or two.

Manipadam said a very reasonable sum of money would be needed to maintain the project.

APDCL subdivisional engineer (Jorhat II) Robert Handique appreciated the school's initiative and hoped other institutes would also adapt renewable energy.