Thiruvananthapuram: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) estimates that implementing a solar power project at Sabarimala Temple could lead to an annual saving of Rs 10 crore on electricity charges.

During the Sabarimala Pilgrimage alone, the board spent Rs 3 crore on electricity bills. The board said it only requires Rs 10 crore to execute the solar energy project at Sabarimala.

During the state budget, Rs 50 lakh was allocated to implement solar power projects at Sabarimala and 26 other temples across the state. In a bold step, the board installed solar panels at its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram to generate 40 kilowatts of electricity.

Meanwhile, efforts will be taken to find a sponsor willing to invest Rs 10 crore in the Sabarimala project. Previously, during N. Vasu's tenure as TDB president, the institute in Hyderabad had expressed interest in supporting the project. Unfortunately, progress stalled when there was a change in the governing body. The solar power plants will be set up by the 'Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology' (ANERT), an autonomous body under the Kerala government.