Monday, July 07, 2014: In a move which could take Kochi ahead of any state in solar power, Detailed Project Report(DPR) to make it a solar city, is to be expected in August. According to a corporation official, International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives(ICLEI), who is handling the DPR, asked for additional three months to prepare the report in a better manner.
The solar city project aims at installing solar energy system into streetlights, garden lights, hotels and restaurants, administrative offices and turning Kochi into first solar city of India.
Kochi’s solar project is a part of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy(MNRE) plan, which aims at developing 60 solar cities in India. “Data collection for DPR is the most challenging job as there are many factors which are to be incorporated. ICLEI asked for additional period of three months, which should end by July’s end,” said Kochi Corporation Town Planning Committee Chairman, K J Sohan.
He also added that once the DPR is approved, it will be submitted to the centre for further approval and fund collection. They hope to initiate tender procedure following centre’s nod. The project will be aimed at two things-power generation and power saving.
Under power saving, they are planning to install sensors on street light which will turn dim and bright automatically. Additionally, the civic body will try to push for installing solar system in public places which attracts a lot of crowd and prompt them to shift to solar energy.
