“Better late than never” seems to be the motto of the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC).

For, the MCC, which served as the nodal agency for implementing the Centrally sponsored ‘Solar City’ project for promoting solar power generation, will be harnessing the renewable energy from its main office building with the idea of becoming self-sufficient in its energy needs.

The MCC could have taken the green energy route years ago when the city was identified under the ‘Solar City’ project, and could have projected itself as a model perhaps to encourage others to take up harnessing renewable energy.

Now, after several years, that too with the Solar City project is almost nearing conclusion, the MCC has taken up a project for rooftop solar power generation.

The terrace of the MCC’s main building, a heritage edifice, is being used to tap solar energy that will be used to light up the electrical appliances of the office, thus minimising the use of conventional electricity. The aim is to spread the message and encourage more people to start harnessing solar power.

“We are going green with the MCC all set to tap solar power, thereby becoming one of the promoters of renewable energy,” said MCC Commissioner G. Jagadeesha.

He told The Hindu that besides the MCC building, all nine buildings housing the MCC’s zonal offices too would go green by installing rooftop solar power generation systems. “Once implemented, all our office buildings will become eco-friendly even as we will minimise the expenditure on electricity,” he said.

Completing work

The frames for placing the photovoltaic cell panels have been put up on the roof of the MCC building, and work on placing the panels will commence soon. “We hope to complete the work by February-end,” the Commissioner said.

When asked why there was a delay in launching this initiative when the Solar City project was launched several years ago, he said: “The work got the approval recently with 30% funding under the Solar City project of the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the remaining being foot by the MCC. The old grants are being used now.”

Mr. Jagadeesha said the project at the MCC main building alone costs ₹80 lakh.

The Solar City project was launched to promote the use of renewable energy in urban areas to reduce the demand for conventional energy by at least 10% by adopting and encouraging non-conventional energy resources.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/mysuru-city-corporation-finally-takes-the-solar-route/article22746260.ece

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