The Electrical Inspectorate Department plans to support energy conservation initiatives in the local bodies across the State. Some of the potential areas identified for energy conservation include water pumping stations, streetlights and buildings. As the first step towards encouraging energy savings in local bodies, the department has given Rs.17 lakh to the Alandur Municipality to improve efficiency at its sewage pumping station.
Electrical Inspectorate officials said the department had already written to Commissionerate of Municipal Administration about the project. If the model project proves to be successful, it could be replicated in other local bodies with the technical guidance of the department.
ADVERTISEMENT
The efficiency of the sewage pumping station of the Alandur municipality would be improved from the existing 47 per cent to 70 per cent once the recommendations are implemented, said an official.
The local body has to carry out the project within a period of six months. The present electricity consumption of the facility is 1.70 lakh units a year. Nearly 55,000 units could be saved once the project is completed. The project report would be sent to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, which is the nodal agency for implementing the Electricity Conservation Act. Similar projects could also be taken up in the areas of agriculture and solid waste management.
Officials at Alandur Municipality said the local body also contributed Rs.13 lakh as its share towards the project. Besides procuring energy-efficient motors of 150 HP capacity, variable frequency drive would also be installed at the pumping station.
The facility at Nilamangai Nagar pumps out nearly 12 million litres a day of sewage to Perungudi treatment plant. The project would help in cost savings by 30 per cent, an official said.
ADVERTISEMENT