The Endowments department is planning to construct a 10 MW solar power plant in about 50 acres at Jaggaiahpet shortly.
The department, in association with a private agency, will install the plant which would cost around Rs. 50 crore, according to Principal Secretary Revenue (Endowments) J.S.V. Prasad.
The plant would be set up on Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) basis. The power generated there would be connected to the grid and supplied to seven major temples. With this, the temples would save a lot on electricity bills.
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The seven major temples are Srisailam, Kanaka Durga, Srikalahasti, Kanipakam, Dwaraka Tirumala, Simhachalam and Annavaram.
“Another one MW exclusive solar power plant would also come at Simhachalam. The Government cleared the proposal of Union Civil Aviation Minister and Simhachalam temple chairman P. Ashok Gajapati Raju,” he said.
Mr. Prasad said an energy audit had been conducted recently at the seven temples. It was found that they were incurring energy bills to the tune of Rs. 15.92 crore per annum.
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By implementing energy efficiency initiatives, these temples could save Rs. 415 crore on power and LPG bills, he said.
Replacement of old and inefficient pumps with new EE pumps, installation of AC savers, jumbo cookers, replacing old fans with five- star rated fans and solar water heating systems were some of the measures that would be taken, he said.
The temples in the State have vast agricultural lands. The managements were asked to cultivate flowers and vegetables adopting organic farming techniques. As every temple has ‘gousalasp, the dung and cow urine would be used in farming.Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam Executive Officer A. Surya Kumari and State Energy Conservation Mission CEO A. Chandrasekhar Reddy were also present.