Monuments to switch on solar power before Games

WITH the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy set to install solar power plants at the three World Heritage Sites and select monuments before the Commonwealth Games, monuments in the Capital will soon be lit up by the sun even during the night. The plants will be provided as part of a Special Area Demonstration Project covering 27 World Heritage Sites other selected monuments and tourist spots across the country. Sources said the ministry has already got clearance from the Ar chaeological Survey of India for the World Heritage Sites of Humayun's Tomb and Qutab Minar, but an approval from the Delhi government for the Red Fort is awaited. These sites have been sanctioned Rs 1 crore each for setting up 50-KV solar power plants . Jama Masjid, Lotus Temple and Old Fort have been sanctioned Rs 50 lakh for generating 25 KV, while Jantar Mantar and Safdarjung's Tomb have been allotted Rs 25 lakh each for 12.5-KV plants. "We are taking up the project on priority basis because of the Commonwealth Games and should complete it by early September," said a ministry official. "Work on Humayun's Tomb and Qutab Mi nar will begin next week and the deadline for these two sites has been fixed for August 15." "The renewable energy systems will illuminate these monuments and also supplement the energy requirement by way of providing green and clean energy as per the requirements of the individual sites. The amount of battery back-up will depend on the type of load which will be assessed while preparing the detailed project report," the ministry official said. The expected daytime demand at the World Heritage Sites is of indoor lighting and fans, ventilation, Solar Photovoltaic pumps for irrigation, information kiosks and at the ticket counters. The night load will be for LED-based flood lights as well as garden and outdoor lights, the officials said. "Solar power will not only save on electricity, but also secure the monuments with additional lighting around the site for over four hours after sun down."The financial assistance will be provided for meeting full cost of procurement and installation of the systems and devices and annual maintenance charges for five years. The implementation of the scheme will be carried out in consultation with the Ministry of Tourism.