Many of the local administrative bodies in the state, including the district panchayats, municipalities and Municipal Corporations, have come forward to establish a mechanism to tap solar energy, by setting apart a portion of their funds for the purpose in their annual budget.
The move has great significance at a time when Kerala is reeling under severe shortage of energy, and is evident of a pioneering step towards ensuring the energy security of the state.
The Kottayam district panchayat is planning to implement the solar panel facility in the 140 Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe colonies under its purview.
“After the implementation of the project, each household in the colony would be able to generate electricity for its use,” district panchayat president Radha V Nair has said.
The Ernakulam district panchayat has ear-marked a sum of `25 lakh for the purpose in the coming financial year.
As a first step, they are planning to set up solar panels atop an auditorium and a canteen under the panchayat’s control. Ernakulam district panchayat secretary Abdul Rasheed told Express that they are planning to extend the facility to the schools and hospitals of the area too.
G Padmakumar, Additional Secretary, Kollam Municipal Corporation told Express that they have set apart `1.5 crore for installing solar panels.
And the Corporation is planning to begin the task at home, by installing the facility at the Corporation office.
It will be extended to zonal offices, hospitals and anganwadis in the next stage. He said that the Corporation would like to provide the facility to the public at subsidised rates, with the assistance of the state government.
Pathanamthitta district panchayat has set aside a fund of `1 crore for the implementation of the project. Panchayat president Saji Chacko told Express that they are planning to start the project at the Government Hospital, Kozhenchery.
Saji, who is also a Professor of Physics said that the future of mankind depends upon the judicious use of energy resources and renewable sources would save the planet. So, he said, the project, which lays emphasis on solar energy, is highly significant.