Gandhinagar now wants its place in the sun

Gandhinagar, recognised as the ‘‘greenest city’’ is now eyeing the ‘‘solar city’’ tag.The Narendra M...

Gandhinagar, recognised as the ‘‘greenest city’’ is now eyeing the ‘‘solar city’’ tag.

The Narendra Modi Government has envisaged an ambitious project to encourage the use of solar power and install non-conventional energy systems in government buildings.

The Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA), has been appointed the nodal agency to implement the project. A proposal will soon be submitted to the Union Power Ministry to seek funds.

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The GEDA has submitted a 53-page blue-print titled ‘‘Solar City, Gandhinagar’’ to the state government. A steering committee will soon be formed which would be headed by Saurabh Patel, the Minister of State for Energy and Petrochemicals.

The solar cookers and water heaters are already popular in the state, said Gandhinagar district collector Sonal Mishra. Now the idea is to take forward the process to introduce lights, pumps, power plants and rickshawswhich will be operated by solar batteries. Large scale use of solar distillation plants, dryers and heaters will also be started, Mishra added.

The government plans to target private office complexes, and educational and service institutions for the switch to solar power.

Government buildings like the circuit house, vishram gruh, pathikashram and civil hospital have already been identified for the mandatory use of solar power.

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For starters, the plan envisages solar street lights on the premises of government buildings, ministerial enclave and public parks.

When contacted, Saurabh Patel said, ‘‘The solar city project is an attempt to propagate and popularise extensive use of solar energy among Gandhinagar residents and business houses. We are committed to implement it with public-private participation.’’