Solar power to light up State's monuments

Disclosing this proposal, Union Minister for Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah said the Centre would shortly take up the project in concert with the State Government.
The aim is to promote renewable energy by showcasing these important structures. “We want to show what renewable energy can do... People would draw inspiration from the government’s initiative,” he said.

Earlier, Abdullah held a meeting with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, Energy Minister K S Eshwarappa and top State Government officials at the Vidhana Soudha.

The Centre was planning to take up the project at Raj Bhavan, the chief minister’s home-cum-office “Krishna” and certain important religious places among others, Abdullah added.

Lamenting that increasing emission levels was a major issue, Abdullah said using clean and green energy like solar power will help mitigate the problem.

The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, which will become functional in January 2010, will go a long way in this direction, he added.

Yeddyurappa said Karnataka’s current installed capacity of renewable energy (wind, mini-hydel and solar) was 2,596 mega watts, which was 11 per cent of the total energy generation capacity. The Government proposed to come up with a renewable energy policy soon, he said.

Requesting Abdullah to grant speedy environment and forest clearance so that mega power projects could be pursued expeditiously, Yeddyurappa sought more Central assistance for developing mini-hydel, solar and wind energy units in the State.

The chief minister said the State’s current overall energy deficit was 1,400 mw to 2,000 mw during peak time, and that his government was planning to add 5000 mw to 7,000 mw over the next five years.