Karnataka Grameen Bank to develop 80 solar villages

Mangalore: The Dharwad-based Karnataka Vikas Grameen Bank (KVGB) is planning to develop another 80 villages in Karnataka as solar villages. It has already financed over 12,000 solar light units.

It plans to finish the work on 80 solar villages by March 2010. KVGB will develop 20 villages in Belgaum, 10 each in Bijapur, Bagalkot, Haveri, Gadag and Dharwad, four villages in Uttara Kananda; and three each in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district as solar villages.

The bank plans to equipe 10,000 houses in these villages with solar provision by end of 2009. The bank will finance 85 per cent of the cost for the solar light unit and the buyers are free to choose the solar light company.

Presently, KVGB has financed around 12,000 solar lights valued at Rs 18 crore. The bank will also form farmers’ clubs in the selected villages for creating awareness about the solar light projects and providing maintenance assitance for solar light units.