The Hindu 03.02.2011
Master plan for solar city project by February 15
Aim is to promote use of renewable energy
The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) is preparing a master plan to
turn the city into a solar city. The plan is likely to be ready by
February 15. If the corporation succeeds in its endeavour, Vijayawada
will be among the few cities in the country that would be called solar
cities in the next five years.
The master plan will have a database of electricity
consumption in the city and the estimated carbon emission levels. It
would set a goal of a minimum of 10 per cent reduction in the projected
total demand of conventional energy at the end of five years, to be
achieved through energy saving by following energy efficiency measures
and generation from renewable energy installations, officials say. The
plan would be implemented by categorising the buildings into residential
apartments, commercial complexes, industries, individual houses,
corporate establishments and buildings of the VMC.
The solar city project is aimed at promoting the use of
renewable energy and empowering urban local bodies to address energy
challenges at the city level. The Union Ministry of New and Renewable
Energy would provide a grant of Rs. 10 lakh per annum to the VMC for
implementing the project.
Under the project, street lights, energy used for water
pumping and supply and maintenance of office lighting would be met
through solar energy. This is expected to bring down the civic bodies’
expenditure by 10 per cent. Besides, the Ministry had directed the
cities selected for the implementation of the project to promote the use
of non-conventional energy by private buildings, including apartments
where solar energy could be adopted, for common lighting and water
supply.
The corporation is preparing the plan following the
Centre’s sanction of Rs. 50 lakh for ‘Solar City’ project. Of the Rs 50
lakh, the VMC is spending about Rs. 10 lakh each on preparation of the
detailed project report, establishment of a solar energy cell and
implementation of the project. The remaining Rs. 20 lakh would be spent
on creating public awareness.
Vijayawada is one of the 16 cities identified under
Rajiv Solar Energy Mission Project by the Central government. The
project, for which the Centre has allocated over Rs. 30 crore with each
city getting Rs. 50 lakh, is a part of the Eleventh Five Year Plan.
The SR Consultancy is preparing the master plan and the
Corporation would prepare a detailed project report based on the master
plan.
