The Times of India              30.01.2014

NMC plans to install solar panel at its HQ

NASHIK: With an aim to reduce electricity bills, the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) is planning to use solar power at its headquarters at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan. The proposal in this connection is soon to be tabled at the general body meeting of the municipal corporation for its approval soon.

Speaking to TOI, an official from the electricity department of the NMC said, "We have plans to install solar panel at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, which will save the electricity bills up to 70%. Solar power will be utilised during working hours. At present, the annual electricity bill of Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan is close to Rs 45 lakh. Installation of solar panels will save around Rs 30 lakh in electricity bills in a year. The capacity of the solar panel will be 1 MW at an estimated cost of Rs 1 crore. The proposal in this connection is soon to be tabled at the general body meeting for its approval."

"We will immediately float a tender for installation of solar panel once we get the approval. The process will take around six months after we get the approval," he said. Besides the headquarters, the NMC has six divisional offices in its limit - Nashik East, Nashik West, Nashik Road, Satpur, Cidco and Panchavati. The electricity bills of the head office and the divisional offices are close to Rs 80 lakh a year.