Chandigarh set to become 'solar city'

The union territory of Chandigarh is all set to become a "solar city" and reduce its dependence on conventional and non-renewable energy resources, officials said here Wednesday.

The administration here has nearly finalised the draft plan for extensively utilising solar energy in collaboration with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

To finalise the modalities of this project, a meeting was held between officials of the union territory and TERI Tuesday evening.

"The draft report submitted by TERI has recommended energy efficiency measures of up to 20 percent for both residential and commercial sectors. The central government will fund this project, with a matching grant by the administration or the municipal corporation, whoever takes up the project," said the official spokesperson of the administration.

Pradip Mehra, adviser to the Chandigarh administrator, said: "Once the project takes off, the city will become a model solar city deriving substantial percentage of its energy consumption through renewable energy sources and implementing other energy efficiency measures."

"I have told the concerned officials to complete the formalities at the earliest and to initiate the procedures for the formal adoption of the project," he added.

The administration will submit the draft plan to Chandigarh Administrator S.F. Rodrigues. After getting his approval, it will be sent to the central government for the final nod.