Vijayawada chosen for ‘solar city’ programme

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FIVE-YEAR PROJECT Vijayawada chosen for ‘solar city’ programme Harie | TNN Hyderabad: The historic city of Vijayawada has been chosen for implementing the ‘solar city’ programme by the Government of India. Vijayawada is one of the 15 cities across the country chosen by the Union ministry for new and renewable energy for implementation of the five-year project, which is aimed at promoting the use of renewable energy and empowering the urban local bodies to address energy challenges at the city-level. The state government gave necessary permissions on Friday for implementing the ‘solar city’ programme, which would help the city in recycling its wastes and reduce carbon emission that have become a threat to the environment. As part of the programme, Vijayawada, located on the banks of river Krishna, aims to significantly reduce carbon emissions (an estimated 14.73 lakh tonnes of carbon monoxide is generated by the city). Official sources said the city has seen some pioneering efforts from the local administration in partnership with private players over the past five years to generate energy from waste by setting up three different solid waste treatment plants, wherein power, bio-fertiliser and pellets were produced. The Union ministry of new and renewable energy would provide a grant of Rs 10 lakh per annum to Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) for implementing the project. As per the programme, a master plan would be prepared with a database of electricity consumption in the city and the estimated carbon emission levels. The aim is to reduce the projected total demand of conventional energy by at least 10 per cent at the end of five years through energy saving from energy efficiency measures and generation from renewable energy installations. Sources said the VMC entered into an agreement with International Council for Local Environment Initiative (South Asia) and British High Commission to implement the ‘solar city’ programme to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save power consumption and thereby conserve the environment.