The Union Government has sanctioned Rs 50 lakh to the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) for preparing an action plan to introduce solar power system in streetlighting and to bring about awareness among people over non-conventional energy to reduce carbon monoxide emissions in thickly populated areas.

As part of the scheme, VMC has called for tenders to select a consultant to prepare a roadmap for identification of places where carbon monoxide emission is high and submit proposals to the Corporation.

The tenders evoked good response with five companies coming forward for technical bidding. The project would be continued for a period of five years.

VMC officials are also planning to introduce solar power in Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) houses coming up at Jakkampudi village, near here. They are planning to introduce Light Emission Diodes (LEDs) to reduce the emission of carbon monoxide.

The Corporation authorities are also planning to introduce solar lighting on the Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) roads on a stretch of 1 km. The Corporation would implement the solar city project in collaboration with Non-conventional Energy Development Corporation of AP Ltd (NEDCAP).

The main objective of the Solar City Project is to promote the use of renewable energy in urban areas by providing support to municipal corporations, to address energy challenges at city level, to build capacity in urban locol bodies and create awareness among all sections of society.

The Union Ministry has already initiated various programmes in the urban sector for promoting solar water heating systems in homes to save power.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is going to announce a national solar energy policy on November 14. The State Government is also initiating plans to popularise the solar energy systems.