Bodh Gaya: The sacred Land of Enlightenment, is set to undergo a transformative green initiative under the leadership of Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) Sanjeev Hans.

In alignment with the ambitious and environmentally friendly program of the Bihar government, Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Mission, CMD Hans is spearheading efforts to make Bodh Gaya a green energy town.

Hans said a novel experiment wherein the Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited (BSPHCL) will exclusively source the electricity needs of Bodh Gaya from renewable sources. The green energy will be derived from either solar or hydro sources, marking an important step towards sustainability. As part of this initiative, even the traditional metal or concrete poles will be replaced with eco-friendly green poles, further contributing to the town's green transformation.

This was announced by Hans during inauguration of the installation of Smart Prepaid Meters (SPM) in Bodh Gaya. Under his visionary leadership Bihar is emerging as a pioneer in SPM installations, earning accolades across the country. Till date more than 26 lakh SPMs have been installed in the state.

Hans initiated the process of SPM in Gaya by starting a test meter in the shop of a consumer Savita Kumari. A total of 6,05,104 smart meters will be installed in Bodh Gaya, and 1.19 lakh SPMs will be fixed in urban areas. This will promote enhanced energy and billing efficiency for consumers.

Implementation partner IntelliSmart, responsible for the installation, plans to complete fixing the SPMs within the next eight months. Hans emphasised the massive awareness campaign conducted across the district to educate consumers about the benefits of SPMs. The CMD urged consumers to engage with DISCOM teams of South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (SBPDCL) teams to understand the special features of the Smart Prepaid Meters.

Managing Director, SBPDCL, Mahendra Kumar, assured consumers of a smooth roll-out, stating that measures are in place to minimise the inconvenience. The SPM initiative, he highlighted, not only empowers consumers to save electricity but also eliminates the need to visit electricity offices for bill payments.

The awareness programs include engagement activities such as loudspeaker announcements, distribution of pamphlets, and camps to educate consumers about the features and benefits of SPMs. Deliberations with Panchayat representatives are also part of the effort to spread awareness about Smart Prepaid Meters.

"In this journey towards a green and technologically advanced future, Bodh Gaya will not only preserve its spiritual and cultural heritage but also become a symbol of sustainable development and energy efficiency," said Hans.