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Hospitals, hotels told to install solar heating plants

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Delhi Govt's bid to preserve 200 MW power

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Government has decided to step up pressure on all hospitals and hotels in the city to install solar water heating plants on their premises so that nearly 200 MW of power could be cumulatively preserved, leading to a significant reduction in the demand-supply gap during the peak winter months.

"We are very clear on this plan and would ensure that all the hospitals, big nursing homes and hotels comply with it in the interest of the city,'' Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit told The Hindu on Saturday.

She said a number of steps are being initiated to reduce consumption of power in the city as this would lead to an easing of the power shortage that is experienced when winter and summer are at their peak.

The Government would be convening a meeting of the groups concerned later this month to finalise the plan of action for installation of solar water heating plants. To be chaired by the Chief Secretary, the meeting would focus on how the installation of these plants could be facilitated.

Principal Secretary (Power) Rakesh Mehta said all the hotels and hospitals would be given time till September 2007 to install the solar water heaters. Hundreds of buildings would thus be involved in power conservation. "While subsidy is not given to the institutions for installation of solar systems, they end up saving on their energy bills. On the other hand for residential premises a subsidy of Rs 6,000 per solar system is being provided.''

Incidentally, the Delhi Government has made use of solar water heating systems, CFL lamps and electronic chokes mandatory in all the Government buildings, departments, hospitals and jails.

The directions to all the departments on implementing the orders and undertake energy audit using the services of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency had been issued under Section 18 of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001. Under the new terms, use of ISI-marked motor pump sets, power capacitors, foot and reflex valves in agriculture had also been made mandatory.

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