Surat to reduce use of traditional power sources

In a bid to reduce its dependence on traditional energy sources, the Surat Municipal Corporation is eyeing ways to increase solar power generation and its usage. The civic body has hired a consultancy firm to find ways to increase solar power generation and its usage. The firm will later prepare a master plan for the project.

Surat is among the 60 cities selected by the Union government for the Solar City Project. Gandhinagar and Rajkot are the other cities in Gujarat which have been selected for the project, which emphasizes on increased usage of solar power.

The Surat civic body has hired a Gurgaon-based consultant to identify possibilities of solar power, its usage and to prepare an elaborate plan for the project. The firm, which will be paid a fee of Rs3.46 lakh, will first identify the energy requirements and situation of energy supply in the city, and, later, prepare a master plan for ten years. The consultant will also frame policies to promote solar energy, energy conservation and to reduce greenhouse gases emissions.