SDMC unveils ambitious plan to install solar panels in Municipal buildings
New Delhi: In his Budget proposal for the financial year 2019-2020, Commissioner of South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) Puneet Kumar Goel on Tuesday unveiled an ambitious plan to install solar panels in various Municipal buildings. The Commissioner has also proposed to convert remaining street lights into LED in the next financial year besides augmenting infrastructure for sanitation works and maintenance of small roads under the jurisdiction of the civic body.
"To reduce pollution, it has taken 75 electric cars on lease for which 123 charging stations have been installed. It is expected that per annum 1.65 lakh litres fossil fuel will be saved and more than 2100 ton CO2 emission will be reduced. For generation of 6.72 MW solar power, solar panels have been installed over rooftop of 153 municipal buildings. 22000 LED lights have been installed at dark spots whereas 16000 LED lights have been installed at other places during this year," Goel said
The Commissioner, while tabling the Revised Budget Estimates 2019-2020 to the Standing Committee, also estimated a fiscal deficit of nearly Rs 565 crore. The Commissioner said that introduction of new taxes is necessary as fiscal deficit for year 2019-20 is expected to touch Rs 5437.97 crore. He announced a whopping 25.47 percent on sanitation while 18.5 percent of total expenditure on education. 7.19 percent of the total budget expenditure will be spent on health.
"Rating Agency ICAR has given SDMC AA+ rating on Provision for Double Entry Account for better financial management. AA+ credit is the highest rating for any local body. SDMC has since decided to issue bonds worth Rs 5 hundred crore for a period of 10 years for which bond rating process is on. An engineered landfill site is being set up in Okhla. Proposed 20 new automated multilevel parking at different places. Out of fund of Rs 100 crore under Swachh Bharat Mission released for MCDs by Union Housing and Urban Affair Ministry, SDMC has been allotted six mechanical road sweepers and 40 water sprinkler tankers," he said.
"Setting up of a 2.5 mw capacity solar energy plant at Faridabad and 25 mw capacity another solar energy plant at Ghummanhera are on the cards. One each smart classroom has been made functional in 195 schools," added the Commissioner.
