The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued notices to the state government and its power development corporation seeking their response to a PIL which claimed poor quality solar power plants installed at some health care centres were endangering the lives of infants.
The PIL filed by social activist Sushil Levi claimed that Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam (MPUVN)--the nodal agency under the state government to implement new and renewable energy related initiatives--reduced the battery power bank capacity of the solar power plants installed at seven primary health and community health centres in Vidisha district.
He has cited media reports to claim that poor power backup and low battery power of the solar plants had resulted in death of newborns in these institutions.
The High Court recently issued notices and the matter is likely to be heard early next month.
Levi has also sought action against officials of the MPUVN for allegedly reducing the battery power.
"It is a very serious matter. Most of the primary health care centres in Madhya Pradesh do not have proper power back up and it is endangering the lives of infants. The state government should constitute an enquiry into it," he said.
The petition was filed in the High Court as repeated representations to the MPUVN seeking a probe in the matter did not elicit any response, said Levi.
There are over 1,100 primary health centres and nearly 340 community health centres in the state.
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