The district administration is taking steps to generate solar power. In the long run, the plan is to make the city entirely solar powered. Authorities held a meeting with officials concerned and directed them to set up a two megawatt solar power plant on seven acres of land at Naggal village in Barwala. The plant will generate 8,000 units of electricity every day, which will be given to the power department.
The administration also plans to set up five megawatt solar power plants on five government buildings. Power generated from these buildings will be adjusted in the HUDA (Haryana Urban Development Authority) electricity bill. Department of renewable energy, Haryana (HAREDA) officials working on the project said that setting up one mega solar power plant requires a minimum of three acres of land and an expenditure of Rs 3 crore.
Under the “Solar city – green city” project, all street lights, lights at government buildings and government residential houses will be replaced with LED lights. The administration also plans to install solar panels on all industrial units in the district.
A senior official working on the project said, “The plan is to generate 20% of the 607 million units of everyday consumption of the district.”
Those using 30 kilowatt and above electricity at their industrial or commercial units will have to install the solar power system. The power department is making a list of such units. Notices will be issued to them. If anyone fails to install the solar plant after three notices, the connection of their units will be cut. Under the Solar City project, the administration also plans to start electric city buses in collaboration with the Haryana Roadways department. Five solar charging stations are to be made to promote electric vehicles at HARERA building in Sector 17, DC office in Sector 1, UHBVN Building in Sector 14, Municipal Corporation Community Center and a park.
Permission for construction of houses of over 500 square meters will be given only if there is a solar power plant in the plans. Meanwhile, residents want the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model for installation of solar plants on rooftops on the pattern of Chandigarh, where it is free of cost. At present, they are not coming forward for the solar power plants due to the heavy investment involved.
S K Nayar, president, Citizen Welfare Association (CWA) wrote to the Haryana CM and power minister. Nayar said, “Haryana government must come forward and adopt Resco model.”
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