Additional Joint Collector N. Ramesh has directed heads of various government departments to fix solar panels and use solar energy to overcome power shortage.
Participating in the District-Level Energy Conservation Committee meeting here on Thursday, he said the government offices in Vijayawada, Machilipatnam, and other municipalities should use solar power to solve power problem, and instructed the officers to prepare estimations in this regard.
He asked the Panchayat Department officers to install solar panels for street lights in villages. The municipal officials should enlighten the public on the need to utilise solar energy, said Mr. Ramesh.
The Industries Department authorities should accord permission for new factories and industries only if they took energy conservation measures.
All the existing industries should fix capacitors and the officials concerned should conduct surprise visits and take action against the managements if capacitors were not installed, he said.
Residential quarters should fix solar panels and use solar energy to solve power crisis.
The municipal officials were asked to organise awareness meetings and explain the public the subsidy being extended for installing solar panels, said the Additional Joint Collector.
Vijayawada Municipal Corporation Chief Engineer G. Kondal Rao explained the steps being taken to save power.
AP Transco Superintending Engineer B. Mohan Krishna, NEDCAP district manager K. Srinivasa Rao, in-charge Joint Director (Agriculture) N.C.H. Balu Naik, and officers of various municipalities attended the meeting.