Kakinada, May 20^th: To provide uninterrupted banking services in rural areas where there are frequent power cuts, the district authorities have taken up a program to install solar systems in banks. Depending up on the need the solar systems ranging from 500 watts to 1000 watts will be installed and the branches will be provided power for lighting, computer, printer, scanner, fans and other needs.

With frequent power interruption in rural and urban areas, the bankers are facing problems in giving quick services to customers. At present nearly 8,000 self help groups (SHGs) women and membership strength of over 10 lakh and total disbursement of bank linkage to Rs 986 crore, more responsibilities are levied on bankers to take care of these customers. With more than 380 branches in the district and half this number in rural areas, a proposal for uninterrupted power supply under the solar and wind hybrid system was made to Nedcap, through district lead bank, Andhra bank.

Nedcap’s East Godavari unit executive engineer, Mr. G. Satyanarayana revealed that the system for a 500 to 1000 watt use would cost around Rs 2 lakh. He said that banks facilitated with this solar system can utilize the facility even in the days where there are no power cuts as solar power has no maintenance costs.