A master plan has been chalked out to develop Mysuru as a model solar city with the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) releasing the list of 50 select cities.
The plan, which has five sub-plans, has already been approved by the Union government.
A 8kv solar power generating plant, established at a cost of Rs 15.20 lakh, is already functional at Kuppanna Park in the city. It produces nearly 14,400 units of power per annum. The power is intended for the lights in the park and is expected to save up to Rs 1.8 lakh per year.
Works on a similar project is underway at Chaluvamba Park, while a 60kv solar plant at a cost of Rs 60 lakh is expected to come up on the terrace of the main building of the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC).
MCC Commissioner C G Betsurmath said tenders have been invited to install 45kv plants on all seven zonal office buildings in the jurisdiction of the civic body. A proposal to establish a 75 kv plant on the building of the Mysuru Urban Development Authority is awaiting the State government’s approval.
While the total cost of all the projects taken up in the city so far is Rs 2.10 crore, the MNRE would grant Rs 63.12 lakh. Besides, Rs 1.47 crore can be sourced from beneficiaries and other subsidies. Energy parks are planned at several prominent places like Cesc main office, KIADB, Police Commissioner’s office, Zilla Panchayat and Chamundi Hill to create awareness among the people. Apart from this, solar power plants would be set-up on 16 more government buildings.
Betsurmath said a solar power resource centre has already been established at Jayanagar in the city for the implementation of the plans and to achieve 10 per cent saving in the power used from conventional sources of energy.