With the field trial of Tamil Nadu’s first solar-powered boat, deployed at Manimuthar Dam to take visitors for fun ride into the largest reservoir of the district, is successfully over, the ₹80 lakh boat is likely to become operational soon.
The Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve administration, which introduced coracle ride recently in the dam to attract tourists, deployed the 26-seater solar-powered boat (including two seats for the crew), fabricated by the Mahindra Group, a month ago for field trials. Under the Tamil Nadu Innovation Initiative, the Department of Forest received ₹ 2.25 crore for promoting eco-tourism activities in KMTR and a portion of this grant has been utilised for procuring the solar-powered boat.
The boat, propelled by a lithium-ion battery, is 11.8 metre long and 4 metre wide. One of its unique aspects is that it has a German motor (20 KW) with solar roof on top which can generate 3.8 KW of power. The solar roof will help the boat get partially charged while moving. The field trials were conducted successfully with 24 persons cruising in the boat. Once it becomes operational, the boat will take tourists into the dam’s water, surrounded by the Western Ghats.
Deputy Director, KMTR’s Ambasamudram Division, Omkaram, said the boat performed well during the field trials and met all pre-set parameters. “The boat is very easy to operate though it would be so windy in Manimuthar dam,” he said. Now, the KMTR is waiting for the model code of conduct, clamped in view of the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, to go so that the formal commissioning of the solar-powered boat either by the Chief Minister or the Minister of Forest would be possible.