Hyderabad: Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan said the GHMC should make installation of solar plants and generation of non-conventional energy mandatory while giving permission to build multi-storey residential and commercial complexes. He said Raj Bhavan was one of the first institutions in the state which had started using solar energy. It was hundred per cent powered by solar energy.
Mr Narasimhan was speaking at a function to present state energy conservation awards. He said the cost of solar panels had come down. Besides, over a period of time, the cost could be recovered. He said the GHMC should pioneer this effort which would be followed by metropolitan cities. Municipal authorities should ensure that at least part of the multi-storey complexes were covered by solar energy otherwise clearances should not be given. Mr Narasimhan said that even existing high-rise complexes should be told to install solar power plants. Drastic measures were necessary to ensure this as power saved could be utilised for development purposes. He said farmers should be persuaded to go for smaller solar-energy driven pumps.
The Governor said that Raj Bhavan had started the initiative with solar energy and it stood as a model for others. He said that it was high time to switch over to solar energy as thermal and hydel power sources were not going to last forever and purchasing power was very expensive. He said that power charges should be collected on a regular basis.
He said that Telangana state was one of the most forward looking in terms of using renewable sources of energy and it should improve further and switch completely to solar power.
