The Union Government has decided to take up the Solar Cities programme in the 11th fiveyear Plan to promote use of renewable energy in urban areas by providing support to municipal corporations. It estimates that the demand for energy in cities is rising at the rate of 15 per cent every year and electricity utilities are finding it difficult to meet it. The government has acknowledged the need to develop a framework which will assess the existing consumption levels to prepare an action plan for generating renewable energy.

It designed the Solar Cities programme to achieve this objective and identified about 60 cities all over the country. Only Vijayawada from Andhra Pradesh figures in the list.

The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation has to prepare a master plan within one year and implement it in five years. It will identify total and sector-wise projections of energy demand and supply for the next 10 years. It will identify areas where solar energy can be used and meet 10 percent of the existing demand with solar power.

The corporation has to encourage the use of solar power for water-heating systems, cookers, steam-generating systems, drying systems, refrigeration, airconditioning plants, lanterns, homelighting systems, generators, streetlighting, hoardings, traffic signals, blinkers, road studs, power packs and photovoltaic applications in its territory.

The corporation has also to identify the potential sources for funding solar energy harnessing systems which could be used by the civic body and building owners.

The VMC has to set up a Solar City Cell with senior administrators and engineers. besides, a Solar City Stake Holders Committee will have to be set up as an advisory body involving corporators, local research institutions, residents’ associations, industry, corporates, NGOs, State nodal agency and others.

The municipal corporation has to organise training programmes, workshops, business meetings and awareness campaigns for the stakeholders. It will get about Rs 50 lakh from the Centre to conduct these programmes. Vijayawada city will get priority in financial assistance under various schemes for installation of solar energy utilising equipment.