At least one park in each ward to have solar streetlights

If everything goes according to the Mysore City Corporation’s (MCC) plan, at least one park in each municipal ward in Mysore will have solar streetlights in the coming months.

Making use of funds available for such initiatives or those for park development, solar streetlamps can be installed in one or two parks to spread the message on the need for going in for renewable energy like solar, according to the Standing Committee on City Planning and Development.

The committee told officers of nine municipal zones here to prepare action plans in their respective jurisdictions for installing solar streetlights in at least one or two parks in each ward.

First park Kuppanna Park, one of the oldest parks in the Core Heritage Zone (CHZ), has become the city’s first park to make use of solar power for lighting. Tenders had been invited for installing solar panels to meet the lighting needs of Cheluvamba Park. The solar projects in both parks were proposed under the ‘Solar City’ scheme.

Private partnership The officers, including those in-charge of the horticulture wing in the MCC, have been informally told to explore sponsorship from institutions, industries or wealthy individuals for installing the streetlights in parks.

In case of paucity of funds, private sponsorship can be sought for the same. The contribution is towards the parks and their aesthetics, they said.

Solar cities Mysore and Hubli–Dharwad have been identified for development of solar cities, implemented by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

Under the project, 70 per cent of the cost for harnessing solar energy would have to be borne by the beneficiaries and the Ministry would provide 30 per cent subsidy.

Talks on

Speaking to The Hindu , president Standing Committee on City Planning and Development M.V. Ramprasad said: “There are talks to seek 20 per cent funding from the State government towards the projects, including those in parks. The MCC alone may not bear 70 per cent of the cost of projects; the State can contribute at least 20 per cent.”