IIT Bombay Professor Embarks on a Solar-Powered Journey to Fight Climate Change

IIT Bombay Professor Embarks on a Solar-Powered Journey

VoM News Desk | December 1, 2023 | 12:11 PM IST | Climate & Environment | Follow on Google News

IIT Bombay Professor Embarks on a Solar-Powered Journey to Fight Climate Change

IIT Bombay Professor Embarks on a Solar-Powered Journey to Fight Climate Change

Chetan Singh Solanki, a professor from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, has embarked on a unique journey across India in a solar-powered bus to raise awareness about solar energy and the looming threat of climate change. Known as the ‘Solar Man of India’, Prof. Solanki reached Indore, Madhya Pradesh, as a part of his ambitious ‘Energy Swaraj Yatra’.

Addressing Climate Change through Solar Energy

According to Prof. Solanki, India is among the nations most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, evident from unseasonal rains and catastrophic floods. In response, he initiated the ‘Energy Swaraj Yatra’ in November 2020 and plans to continue until 2030. Prof. Solanki has taken a leave without pay from IIT Bombay for this mission, transforming a solar-powered bus into his home and traveling workspace. “This bus, covering over 47,000 kilometers and addressing more than 600 institutions, is equipped with an office, kitchen, worship room, bed, training room, dining room, library, and a bath-cum-toilet,” he said.

Promoting Localized Solar Energy Utilization

Highlighting the crux of climate change issues — the escalating carbon emissions — Prof. Solanki emphasized the importance of appropriate solar energy usage. He advocates against the indiscriminate installation of large solar power plants. Instead, he suggests making communities self-reliant in solar power generation at a local level. “Achieving swaraj or self-sufficiency in the energy sector is essential for reducing dependency on other countries for fuels,” said Prof. Solanki, who also serves as the solar energy ambassador for the Madhya Pradesh government

VoM News Desk

VoM News is an online web portal in jammu Kashmir offers regional, National & global news.