Indira Gandhi park all set to go ‘solar’

Indira Gandhi park all set to go ‘solar’
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Starting next month, visitors to the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain park will find themselves being educated. Along with fun and frolic, the park will ensure that children leave the park more knowledgeable.

A first of its kind in Bangalore, the park will be packed with equipment that runs on solar energy. The park is spread over 17 acres of land and will include a solar car, solar bus, windmill and solar lights. The entire garden is lit with solar streetlights.

The solar water pumping system and wind water mill will be used to water plants. Pollution free batteries will operate the bus and car.

The park also boasts a solar hut that has received the National Award for its design and architecture during 2004-05. The speciality of the hut is its bamboo structure and it works on 100 per cent solar power.

The hut comprising a kitchen, living room, entertainment provisions, information quiz and Internet facilities will provide renewable energy product details. One can get information on these energies from the Internet and the display boards. Many interesting systems have been specially designed for children. The swimming pool, energy drum, slip and cycle are some of them.

In all the three systems, power is generated when used and speed is displayed to educate children. To escape the hustle and bustle of city, there is no better way than a visit to this park. It also has a musical fountain that is one of the most advanced fountains providing versatile programmes in Indian and Western themes.

A number of fountains patterns each with three distinct heights burst into formations and create an illusion of a folk or group dance. KREDL managing director B Shivalingai said that the aim of the park is to educate masses on renewable energy.

“Most of them are unaware of its usage. Solar application is a new subject for many. Students can also get a detailed idea on solar energy and their operations,” he added. The land comes under Horticulture Department and is funded by KREDL and MNES.

“The major problem is scarcity of water. We have drilled two borewells for this purpose but in vain. A letter has been written to BDA. There are plans to utilise the remaining seven acres of land of the garden if the water problem is solved,” deputy director M Venugopal said.

The park will be open to the public in October. According to sources, the authorities plan to formally inaugurate it by the President of India.