Karnataka Renewable Energy Development appointed as the nodal agency for implementing the project in Karnataka.
The Union Government’s Solar City project has been launched to augment power generation from unconventional sources. As part of the project, Mysore and the twin cities of Hubli-Dharwad (among other 60 cities selected) will be turned into solar or green cities in the country.
The government has already approved Rs 50 million for the Solar City project, according to a TOI report. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has appointed Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL) as the nodal agency for implementing the project in Karnataka.
TOI quoted Satish Phatke, executive engineer, electrical department, Hubli Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), as saying that the main objective was to encourage local governments to adopt renewable energy technology. “According to the plan, initially, local bodies have to reduce their dependence on conventional energy by at least 10 per cent within five years. Gradually, we need to improve generation of solar energy and should become more dependent on solar energy than electricity,” he said.
The Centre has promised to provide 30 per cent financial assistance through MNRE for the project. While the state need to give 20 per cent, the remaining 50 per cent of funds would be borne by the local bodies.
