Surat will now be called solar city

The city of Surat, which glitters with its diamonds, will now be called solar city of the country. The energy ministry of central government has given an approval in principle in this regard. This approval is given under the ministry of new and renewable energy's (MNRE) programme of development of solar cities in the country.

Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) had made a presentation in this regard in 2009 and sent an official proposal to recognise it as a solar city based on its work in last one year. Now, the SMC will establish a solar city cell and solar city stakeholders committee, which will provide necessary guidance and help to citizens and city-based organisations to make use of alternative sources of energy to keep the environment clean.

A master plan of energy sector of the city will now be prepared under MNRE guidelines and an estimate made ready for sector-wise requirement of the energy and its availability. This plan will also derive a baseline of power consumption and green gas emission in every sector.

"We plan to start saving the energy in each sector, reducing emission of green gas and increasing the use of alternative sources of energy by setting yearly targets and implementing the action plan," said a SMC official.

The SMC will also get a grant of Rs 50 lakh under this programme.

Pramod Chaudhary, president, South Gujarat Textile Processors Association (SGTPA), said, "It is a welcome step of the Government of India to give in principle approval to develop Surat as a solar city. The textile industry would whole-heartedly participate in the action plan that would lead to reduction in conventional energy consumption and also CO2 emission through energy conservation and renewable energy devices and system."

Ajay Bhattacharya, president, Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), said, "This is a positive step towards creating clean and green energy. The implementation of the solar city concept should not be on a time-frame basis. The stakeholders should be educated on energy conservation and use of renewable energy devices to reduce the use of conventional energy."