Kerala Govt Offices to go solar

Thiruvananthapuram: A plan is afoot to make the state's government office facilities self-sufficient in power by installing solar energy panels. As the first phase, Udumbanchola, the constituency of Electricity Minister MM Mani, will see the roll-out of the project.

Earlier, solar energy used to be generated in the office buildings of Public Works Department (PWD) which was initiated in Thrissur. The office of the Chief Electrical Engineer in Thiruvaanthapuam is also running on solar power. The High court of Kerala has a functioning solar plant of 100 KW capacity. In addition, Alappuzha Medical College hospital, including its mortuary, also used to work on solar power, but due to disputes with the contractor the project came to a halt.

During the term of the last ministry, a private agency had installed a solar panel in the chief minister's office but got stalled due to lack of follow-up action.

The government is introducing the concept of solar energy in government offices, in line with its policy of promoting non-conventional electricity projects. To this end, a meeting of block-village-panchayat presidents and department heads will be held on 26th July at Nedumkandam in Udumbanchola, and will be attended by minister MM Mani.

Attendees have been asked to turn up with details of their existing power consumption and electricity charges.

It has also been decided to open solar energy shops of ANERT (Agency for Non-conventional Energy and Rural Technology) in all constituencies.