Solar power to light up KMC parks

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has proposed to install solar lights in all its parks, Debashis Kumar, Member, Mayor-in-Council (Parks and Squares) said on Tuesday.

The eco-friendly measure will help KMC reduce its electricity bills. There are 700 parks in the KMC area. Solar lamps have been installed in 28 parks and will slowly be installed in the rest in phases.

Kumar said Deshapriya Park was selected as the first park where the installation was carried out on an experimental basis. Not only did it help reduce electricity bills, it also allowed birds nesting on tree tops to live peacefully as the lights are switched off after the parks are closed.

It may be recalled that environmentalists had taken KMC to task when many birds had died after installation of trident lamps. The birds could not sleep because of the powerful lamps and died of sleep deprivation. Carcasses of birds were found lying on the roads of Ballygunge Lake.

“After the parks were beautified, many birds had come to nest on trees,” said Kumar. Every Sunday birdwatchers are seen taking photographs. Some ornithologists come with their students to get them acquainted with a variety of birds.

Kumar said the entire stretch on Southern Avenue will be beautified. The boulevards will be decorated and benches will be installed for the elderly to sit and enjoy the evening breeze. Almost all parks have been beautified and new saplings planted. The parks and squares department has laid emphasis on their upkeep and maintenance. The KMC has purchased vehicles to water the plants installed on pavements and road medians. “Because of awareness, people are not destroying the plans nor do they spit on the walls,” Kumar said.