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Novel bid for energy efficiency

BHUBANESWAR: In a novel attempt to promote energy efficiency concept and inject awareness on keeping the surrounding clean, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to identify individuals and institutions having exemplary track records in these two fields. They will be hence felicitated as ‘Nagar Bandhu’, (friend of the city). The programme will by jointly executed by BMC and two voluntary ogranisations -- International Council for Local Environmental Initiative (ICLEI) and Orissa Environment Society (OES).

“We will be recognising contributions of people and institutions towards beautifying the city. Special preference will be given to those who would preserve public place through greenery without laying claims on the piece of land,” BMC Commissioner Aparajita Sarangi said.

As the corporation intended to reduce city’s energy consumption by 2 per cent by 2012, people who would tap renewable sources of energy could also compete in the Nagar Bandhu scheme, Ms. Sarangi said.

Each ward of the city would have one Nagar Bandhu and institutions would vie for the recognition in separate category, she said.

BMC was trying to finalise the names of Nagar Bandhus by June 5, the World Environment Day or on August 31, the Local Self-government Day.

Technical persons from OES in association with local corporators would be directly involved in identification and select the target groups.

“The scheme is expected to create a ripple effect towards city’s beautification, energy efficiency and adoption of renewable energy,” Pravat Sutar, project officer of ICLEI, said.

While ICLEI would bear a major chunk of the fund required to implement Nagar Bandhu scheme, rest of the financial contribution would be made from corporate houses, which promote the technologies addressing objectives of the programme.

A few private companies had already extended their cooperation towards sponsoring the scheme, according to the official.

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