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 Rs. 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 Rs. 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.
