The ambitious ‘Solar City’ project of the MNRE, which envisioned reducing the use of conventional energy sources is progressing at a snail’s pace. Mysore was among the two cities in the State, apart from
Hubli-Dharwad, selected in 2011 under the scheme, which aimed at
reducing energy consumption from conventional sources by ten per cent
within five years of its implementation. Three years later, only one project related to the scheme has been implemented. Speaking to Deccan Herald, Subramanya K L, section officer of Mysore
Solar City Cell said that five pilot projects have been approved at
present, but only one project taken up at Kuppanna Park, is on the verge
of completion.
Apart from it, Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for solar units to be
installed at the main building of Mysore City Corporation (MCC) at the
cost of Rs 1.02 crore, MCC Zone 7 building (Rs 45 lakh), Mysore Urban
Development Authority (MUDA) building (Rs 1.27 crore) and Cheluvamba
Park have been sent to MNRE.
In addition to it, the Solar City Cell of MCC?has sent requisitions
to Zilla Panchayat, Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation
Limited, Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board and other
government offices to install solar units.
Even though requests have been sent to private industries, there has
been no encouraging response to install these units, he said. Apart from the lack of interest in installing the units, authorities
have blamed elections and lack of qualified agencies to install the
solar equipment as the cause for the delay in the scheme. Under the scheme, MNRE provides 30 per cent subsidies for the
installation of solar equipment, while the remaining 70 per cent has to
be borne by beneficiary organisations or individuals. Subramanya said
that there has been close to 50 per cent decline in the price of these
equipment. However, interest to install the equipment was lacking, he
added. “Moreover, there are only a few technically qualified agencies with
expertise in installing these equipment, as per MNRE regulations.
As a result, for the installation of a unit at Kuppanna Park we had to invite tender thrice,” Subramanya said.
Suresh Kumar Jain, president of Mysore Industries Association said
that Mysore Solar City Cell has not approached industries for
installation of solar equipment. Even though the industries are ready to
install the units, additional subsidies are required as the instruments
are costly. Solar units can be very useful for running small motors and
micro industries in the region, he added.
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