Solar Scheme of Tirunelveli corporation of Tamilnadu, India on the blink
V Krithiga,
Tirunelveli, India, Nov. 16, 2007
Source: NewIndPress.com
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20071116021549
The Tirunelveli Corporation’s plans to install solar powered devices under its jurisdiction, is gathering dust for more than two years as the civic body has so far not furnished the details to the Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) which has promised to grant a subsidy for the project. As part of its quest for reducing the ever-growing electricity bill and to popularise the advantages of using solar-powered gadgets, the previous Tirunelveli Corporation administration had initiated steps to install solar powered devices in some areas under its jurisdiction.
The project was to be implemented at a cost of Rs 68.60 lakh with subsidy (50 per cent of the project cost) from TEDA. Under the project, the Corporation decided to install 25 solar streetlights – 11 for Thatchanallur Zone, 5 for Melapalayam Zone, 4 for Palayamkottai Zone and 5 for Tirunelveli Zone _ and each at a cost of Rs 26,000. Apart from this, 20 solar streetlight control systems, each at a cost of Rs 25,000, were planned be installed at Bypass Road, S N High Road, Nainarkulam Road and on the stretch between Gurunathan Temple and Thatchanallur water tank.
There were plans for five solar hoardings, each costing about Rs 4.50 lakh having a minimum of 2 sq m area, at Palayamkottai bus-stand, western side of Tirunelveli Junction bus-stand, new bus-stand at Vaeinthankulam and at the new toilet under construction near Tirunelveli Junction. The project also included installation of five solar traffic signals, each at a cost of Rs 6 lakh, ten solar-powered blinkers, each costing about Rs 30,000 and 50 solar road-studs, each costing Rs 3,200.
According to a top official from the Tirunelveli Corporation, the TEDA has not yet released a subsidy amount of Rs 2.5 lakh for the solar devices already installed. “We will be able to start the other work only after TEDA releases the grant and moreover, the corporation does not have fund for the project,” the source said.
A top official from TEDA, Chennai, this website’s newspaper that they would be able to release the grant only when the corporation submits proof for the installed solar devices. “We will release the grant only after they submit necessary proofs such as the photo evidence, insurance details, procurement receipt and the completion report. So far, we have not received any details from the corporation,” the source said.