Pune’s Yerawada Jail goes green with solar cooking system

In a first such initiative in Maharashtra's prisons, the Yerawada Central Jail in Pune has reduced the usage of LPG by opting for an energy-efficient solar cooking system. This switch to a solar steam-based system has helped the correctional facility cut down on consumption of around seven cylinders per week.

Dnyaneshwar Kharat, senior jailor, Yerawada Central Jail, said the renewable energy-based cooking system, which was completely operational a fortnight ago, catered to the women prison in the Yerawada Jail. This women's section of the historic jail holds around 279 inmates, including undertrials and convicts, although it has the capacity to accommodate only 126 inmates.

"Under the system, which was operationalised under the guidance of the jail superintendent UT Pawar, solar dishes have been installed in around 3,000 square feet area. This is used to produce steam for cooking," he added.

Kharat said the new system, which cost around Rs 25 lakh and has been installed by the Maharashtra Energy Development agency (MEDA), served the needs of the prison for most of the cooking done there. "We use LPG cylinders only for heating milk for tea, making the tadka to flavor dishes and cooking chapatis," he explained.

Earlier, the jail needed around one cylinder a day and this environment-friendly cooking system has reduced the dependence on LPG to just one for eight days. This will also lead to a saving of around Rs 17,000 per month to the government.

ENERGY EFFICIENT

• The system, worth Rs 25 lakh has been installed by the Maharashtra Energy Development Agency to serve the prison’s cooking needs. 
   
• With the new environment-friendly system, only one LPG would be required for eight days.