Engg colleges asked to promote solar energy

PTI[ SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2003 01:50:04 AM ]

MADURAI : The Tamil Nadu government has written to the engineering colleges in the state to promote solar energy and renewable energy devices and offered subsidies for various equipment and plants being installed there. The government has also offered subsidy to solar battery operated cars, solar campus lights and solar water heaters and cookers for the colleges so that the concept would also catch up with the students, chairman and managing director of Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA), K Allaudin said here on Saturday.

The objective of the government's move was to popularise renewable energy devices among students, he said participating at a seminar. Allaudin added that in many engineering colleges the students' exposure to renewable energy technology and devices was very little and the government wanted to give reorientation. The TEDA was also eager to promote research on conservation of energy. The government has set apart Rs 10.8 crore to provide solar power in 154 remote villages in the country. The solar power connection would be given in three years. Besides 3,000 street lights would be provided in various local bodies in the state.