KOCHI: The much delayed ‘Solar City’ project initiated by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for Kochi will be a reality soon.
The detailed project report, prepared by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), will be submitted today (Monday).
Though the Corporation adopted a policy in favour of energy saving, energy conservation projects including Solar City had been lying dormant for more than a year.
“The core committee and the stakeholders committee constituted by the City Corporation to implement the project will draft an action plan immediately after the DPR is submitted.
Though delayed, the Solar City project is expected to mark a new beginning in energy conservation and identifying new energy sources for the city,” observed town planning committee chairman K.J Sohan.
ICLEI, the agency which has been supporting local governments to identify energy management solutions, prepared the DPR after a comprehensive survey on energy consumption pattern in the city and energy use by offices, houses and big industrial units.
The civic body which commissioned an energy audit earlier, identified that the energy conservation project was expected to bring down the civic body’s monthly power bill by nearly 60 per cent. Currently, the civic body is paying a hefty amount to KSEB on power bills, Rs.1.12 cr a month for streetlights alone.
“Through renewable energy sources like solar energy, the civic body will be able to minimise dependence on conventional energy sources. Energy conservation programmes planned under the scheme will also help the fund-scarce Corporation trim its power bills,” added Sohan.
The Union Ministry had selected 55 cities under the scheme floated during the UPA regime, two years ago. The ministry has sanctioned Rs.21 crore for various cities under the project.
