The first and second floors of the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) will be powered with solar energy by the end of this month. The installation of the solar panels will begin next week, GCDA chairman N Venugopal said. “The erection of the panels are in its initial stage. In the first phase, we are installing solar panels sufficient for supplying power to the offices in the first two floors. The plan for other floors will be launched later,” Venugopal added.
Earlier, the modernised offices of the Revenue and Finance Departments at the GCDA building were opened for the staff. Benny Behanan and Hibi Eden MLA, District Collector P I Sheikh Pareeth, GCDA executive member Akbar Badusha and N Venugopal were present on the occasion.
Renovated at a cost of Rs 42 lakh, the new offices have a centralised air conditioning system and separate cabins for each employee. “All the cabins are equipped with computers and other facilities. The seating arrangement too is in par with high standards,” Venugopal said.
Regarding the total cost for renovation, G Venugopal said that out of the total of Rs 42 lakh that was spend for the plan, Rs six lakh was the service charge and taxes.
SIDCO was the agency which carried out the renovation works. “This year in the GCDA annual we have allocated Rs 1 crore for the modernisation of various department offices. Accordingly, the administration offices and engineering sections will be renovated by this year end,” he added.
The existing GCDA building is constructed nearly 35 years back and Venugopal said that the entire department offices in the building need to be restructured. “We are planning to carry out the reconstruction of the Planning Department office too. The cost for the modernisation of Planning office will be allocated in the next year’s budget,” he added.