Tura, June 22: The 16KW solar streetlight project at Garobadha in South West Garo Hills inaugurated yesterday is aimed at demonstrating the use of new and renewable energy to the people.

"The idea was to educate people, particular children, on the effects of global warming. The streetlights will testify that with the use of our natural resources, we are able to harness energy," said U.N. Madan, director of Meghalaya's New and Renewable Energy Development Authority.

He said the state government was making efforts to promote and propagate the use of solar energy through different means and setting up of street lighting at markets was one such intervention.

"We have been distributing solar lamps to students of Classes IX and X across Meghalaya for the past two years on a mission mode to educate them. It also helps the students, particularly in the rural areas, to use solar lamps in the absence of electricity," Madan said.

As part of the project, 37 streetlights were installed at Garobadha market, about 33km from Tura in West Garo Hills.

Inaugurating the project, sports and youth affairs minister Zenith Sangma said, "The government will replicate such interventions in other areas as well. It is the need of the hour to combat climate change and produceclean and green energy."

He said the government was propagating the use of green energy under its ambitious programme, Mission Green, envisioned by chief minister Mukul Sangma.

South West Garo Hills deputy commissioner Cyril Diengdoh said, "It should stand out as a community-led project and educate others on the use of solar energy. There is a need for the solar model of energy to be replicated."

At present, Meghalaya generates 320MW of power and the demand during the peak hour is 500MW. It is projected that by 2020, the state would require 1,000MW of power.