Tirunelveli Corporation to tap solar energy

Plan to install solar power panels on its administrative building

The Tirunelveli Corporation has drawn a plan to install solar power panels on its administrative building on an outlay of Rs. 42 lakh.

In view of gap between energy requirement and availability of quality power, the government wants installation of solar power panels. The Department of Local Administration has identified 8,274 government buildings across the State for installing solar panels on rooftops and representatives from these local bodies have been trained in solar technology, energy efficiency, energy management, solar photo voltaic system design, energy efficiency templates, communication services, monitoring and evaluation of solar power gadgets etc.

Following a letter from the Commissioner for Municipal Administration that directed Tirunelveli Corporation to create ‘solar rooftop’ on its administrative building, the urban local body has prepared a project report which says that the solar power system to be installed without batteries would cost about Rs. 42 lakh.

The corporation council is expected to give its nod during its meeting to be held on Thursday.

Plan approval

The corporation has proposed to introduce online submission and clearance of applications for building plan approval following the footsteps of Coimbatore Corporation. This proposal is expected to avoid delay due to manpower shortage. The plans would be saved online for future reference so that fixation of tax for any new building will be easy.

The corporation has planned to spend Rs. 30 lakh for purchasing hardware and software for executing this proposal.

The corporation council is expected to give its nod for laying 100-feet road instead of 60-feet road to connect the Nehru Open Auditorium and South Bypass Road by acquiring land from land owners through direct negotiations.

“If land acquisition, aimed at drastically reducing traffic congestion on Thiruvananthapurm High Road, is still difficult, then the official machinery will invoke existing laws on land acquisition to make a headway,” said a senior Corporation official.