Valsad municipality gets a bill shock,turns to solar power

Slapped with a huge electricity bill,the Valsad municipality has decided to install solar lights on the streets and the same would be replicated later in all the premises it owns.

Recently,discom Dakhsin Gujarat Vij Company limited (GVCL) sent notices to the Valsad Nagarpalika,asking it to clear its outstanding dues of nearly Rs 10 crore,which has been pending for five to seven years.

The issue came up at the civic bodys working committee meeting on Thursday,where the members came up with the idea of installing solar-powered streetlights and bulbs in properties owned by the nagarpalika.

After two hours of discussion,working committee chairman Sonal Solanki agreed to the idea,which would be a cheaper option. Nagarpalika officials are now working on the estimated cost of the solar project and the possibility of a subsidy from the state government.

Solanki said,We have done home work on this project. We hope to cut down power consumption by around 35 per cent through this project. We are also told that the state government gives a subsidy on the use of solar energy. After experts look at the project,we will invite tenders. We have decided to award the contract of operations and maintenance to a single party.

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