The Hindu : Front Page : Local bodies to take up energy planning

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 19, 2007
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Local bodies to take up energy planning

N.J. Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Local self-government institutions are all set to don a major role in energy planning in the State. Other than the electrification of houses and colonies of those below the poverty line (BPL) in rural areas, the thrust will be on achieving energy security by harnessing both conventional and non-conventi onal sources to meet the power needs of society.

The Planning Board has already mooted a proposal to establish a State Mission Group and to launch a flagship programme to tap non-conventional resources such as thermal, solar and wind energy along with rural electrification to be executed by the civic bodies. The proposal assumes significance as it comes at a time when the decentralisation of power completes a decade. Instead of launching a rural electrification programme in the conventional mode to supply 365 units of power to a family annually, the focus of the Eleventh Plan will be on providing energy for basic needs like cooking.

If a family requires eight LPG cylinders a year, this pro-poor energy policy intends to provide cheap alternative power to meet such needs too. Energy planning will be made an integral part of the project preparation of the local bodies, sources said.

Civic bodies will undertake preparatory studies, planning, selection of beneficiaries, prioritisation of sites for installation and resource mobilisation. The Mission Group comprising civic bodies, Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), Energy Management Centre (EMC) and the Agency for Non-Conventional Energy and Rural Technology (Anert) will coordinate the implementation of Centrally sponsored schemes and also tapping of non-conventional sources such as wind, solar, thermal and biomass.

The local body institutions will make effective intervention in energy survey and power line mapping, reduction of distribution loss, line extension, electrification of colonies and households, street-lighting, awareness creation, distribution of energy-efficient devices, voltage improvement through demand side management and small hydel power generation.

The resources for the mission will be mobilised from the Centre, banks, cooperative institutions and also through beneficiary contribution. Though most of the components of the programme can be implemented in association with public sector organisations, civic bodies will have to involve private organisations to launch projects.Organisational support is expected to be mobilised through the three-tier panchayats, sources said.

The civic bodies will also take the lead for improving local power distribution, streamlining street-lighting and demand side management techniques.

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