Eravikulam National Park is getting ready to switch completely to solar energy. According to Wildlife Warden SV Vinod in the next two years, all the buses and staff vehicles plying to Rajamala, as part of the Eravikulam National Park, will be completely converted into electric vehicles. The aim is to start measures to minimize the consumption of electricity by installing an extensive solar energy system in the Eravikulam National Park and make the National Park completely environment-friendly.
Two new buggy cars
The forest officials have introduced two new buggy cars for Rajamala visitors. The cars (costing 11.56 lakhs) which run fully on electricity can accommodate 5 passengers at the same time. A year ago they had bought a buggy car at Rajamala. It was purchased to make travel easier from the visitor zone to Thar-10 for the differently abled and elderly. When that project turned out to be a success, they decided to purchase two more cars.
One of the new cars will be stationed at the entrance door called Ancham mile (5th mile). Those who don’t want to take the forest department bus can travel in a buggy called Thar Eco-Drive by paying Rs 10,000 (for five people).
The package includes visiting waterfalls, and tea forests, and spotting Nilgiri Tahr, within a distance of five and a half kilometers from the 5th mile to Thar-10 point and returning after having a light meal from the cafeteria at the 5th mile.
10 years: 6 lakh litres
In the last 10 years, 6 lakh litres of diesel was used in vehicles in Rajamala alone. According to Asst. Warden Job J Neryamparambil, these figures played a crucial role in their decision to convert the National Park to solar energy. Currently, they are using 9 buses and 4 jeeps in Rajamala. The next step is to convert these vehicles, like buggy cars, to electricity. The forest department is also considering plans to generate more solar energy in the national park.
