Getting closer to the Mega Project!
By: Muhammad Shayan
Tags: Social Change, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, Megaprojects, Electricity

About 2 months ago, I visited my Uncle’s agricultural lands, situated in the backward side of our city. There, I was surprised to see that there was no electricity in that area. That site is about 10 to 15 kilometers away from the framework of main electricity power lines. A small population is also living there without power. Most of them either use fire or the solar energy to enlighten their homes.

The only source of income for people here, is their agricultural lands. They just rest at night and work all day in open. For better growth and more production of crops, water is a must thing. As we know that there are mostly tube wells for irrigation purposes. But since there is no electricity in that area, therefore installing tube wells is of no use. People are dependent on canal irrigation system.

Canal Irrigation system

While visiting the surrounding areas, I got a chance to have a talk and knowing the experiences of some landowners and workers. According to them, they tend to grow such things on lands which can be established with minimal utilization of water. While explaining they mentioned that there is a specific time for which water from canal comes to their land as this time of irrigation is directly linked with the area of their land. Means larger the area of land you own, more time you would have access for water. This time is specified by the agriculture department of respective district.

Luckily, I got an opportunity to observe a property where several solar panels were installed, and these panels were linked with an electric tube well. Area of this land was too large, that it faced problems to irrigate with canal water. Also, the landowner was able to afford such many and expensive solar panels. I also talked about this solar system with other possessors, but they clarified that it is not affordable for them as they hardly fulfil their living expenses.

Solar powered Tube wells

Similarly, while interviewing, some workers said that there are days especially in winter when water comes to their side from canal, at late night and they must settle all the ways so that water could reach to each corner. I was literally feeling those hardships through their expressions and words, at that moment.

I just appreciated them for their efforts and talked about my research plan on a mini hybrid water turbine. This mini hybrid turbine can easily be installed on their canal without effecting any water supply and it can facilitate 10 to 15 houses at full load. I just cannot explain about those sudden smiles on their faces at that moment. They insisted that they want electricity merely to run a single tube well as it would boost their rate and variety of crops production.

Gravitational Vortex water turbine

However, coming back to the main problem, it was very disturbing experience for me as before this visit I used to think that world at least has developed to such an extent that there is an electricity available at every place.

Now, as a social entrepreneur, I would love to work on this problem. Although it was a case that I observed in the surrounding of my city, but I am sure there would be similar areas all around the country where people would be tackling with such issues. I am excited to work on this issue under the statement of “Due to absence of electricity, there is a barrier between better production of crops and living standard of people in some backward areas”. Although our country is known all over the world for having largest canal irrigation system, but still there are some sites where production and variety rate can be significantly improved by making sure the access of electricity.

You cannot fight poverty without electricity!

As I mentioned earlier, this visit proved very fruitful for me because I am already planning to continue my research plan, in master’s program, on a mini hybrid water turbine. I am willing to establish my career in it not just as a social entrepreneur, but also because it is linked with my bachelor’s field in Mechanical Engineering.