Environment is increasingly becoming an area of concern for everyone around the world. Scientists, world leaders, environmentalists and conscious citizens are in arms to figure out solutions to combat this.
Taking this forward, a group of Kashmiri students, studying engineering, have come up with a novel idea to safeguard the Dal Lake in Srinagar and make tourism a beneficial outcome.
They have made a solar boat for the Dal lake. The two-seater boat, with a load carrying capacity of 150 kgs, was launched recently at a function held at Nehru Park in Srinagar.
The feat was achieved by the concerted efforts made by 12 B.Tech students, mostly from the Kashmir valley along with other team members from Jammu. The boat is made of Deodhar frame and plywood body with a front steering system. It is seven feet two-inch-long, three feet six-inch-wide and one feet four inch deep.
The boat works is a simplistic manner. The boat’s battery gets charged by solar light. This battery then gives power to the motor. It took the team about 40 days to make the boat and its cost was Rs. 80,000.
“We are still going to do modifications in it. We are going to include rotary panel and increase the length and width of the boat. Right now, it just has a capacity of two people, later it will increase to 5-10 people. Moreover, as Kashmir witnesses winter most of the times, we have given the facility to charge the battery directly through electricity,” one of the team members has reportedly said.
Dal lake is one of the most renowned freshwater lakes and the way the students have used their creativity to bring a new innovation is commendable. Innovations such as these, not only conserve energy in a constructive manner but also help in attracting tourism to locations such as Dal Lake. More and more students and the younger generation needs to come forward to take up the command of providing a healthy future for all.