Nature
Conservation Society, Amravati's (NCSA) famous community resource centre in
Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR) is now equipped with Solar water heaters. NCSA set up
this community resource centre in 2006 to promote sustainable village
development activities in MTR villages and reduce the biotic pressure on
tiger habitat. NCSA is trying to showcase the rural development technology to
tribals through this centre so that tribal people should adopt the technology.
The
community resource centre is locally known as "Muthawa centre".
Muthawa is a God of the Korku tribe.
NCSA
has created a small camping facility near the Sipna river on 8 hectares of land and
developed three nurseries including one of exclusively medicinal plants.
Artificial water bodies have been created for wild animals and grasslands have
been developed around the water bodies. It has actually attracted chital, sambar
and some carnivores to this campus.
NCSA
has planted many indigenous agro-forestry plants, an orange and mango orchard and
other forest fruit species like chironji and custard apple. The plantation has
come up very well and started producing fruit.
NCSA
generates solar power and bio-fuel to run this centre under the guidance of
energy expert Prof. Nishikant Kale. Muthawa centre has also installed some
innovative items like sewage treatment plant, gravitational water distribution
system, bio fuel plant, solar cooker like appliances, water conservation
structures and spot feeding fence for livestock.
"Thanks
to Wildlife Conservation Trust for their valuable donation to install this
system", said Kishor Rithe, the founder of this centre.The 500 litre water
heating system has actually increased the ecological contribution of this centre.
We have now shifted from natural gas driven gas geysers to solar water heaters.
Students, researchers and community leaders using this centre would enjoy this
new facility, said Dr. Anil Asole, President of NCSA.
