Places of worship to go solar in Telangana

If the plans of the Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation (TSREDCO) work out, several religious institutions across the State will soon go solar.

REDCO, according to its chairman Syed Abdul Aleem, has a few days ago submitted a proposal to Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, suggesting that all mosques under the State Wakf Board and major temples under the Endowments Department be equipped with solar panels to draw power.

“The Chief Minister has responded positively and has asked the officials concerned to check the feasibility of installing solar systems on the roofs of religious institutions,” said Aleem.

Report Sought

“We have also sought a report from the Wakf Board and Endowment Department on the annual energy consumption by mosques and temples. According to our rough energy audit, the government can save more than Rs.3,000 crore per annum by installing solar energy equipment in all religious places,” he said.

“There are more than 3,000 mosques in the State and thousands of temples. We could save money as well as promote the use of renewable energy by implementing energy efficiency initiatives in religious institutions,” Aleem said, adding that religious places could also encourage devotees to use solar energy.

The cost of solar systems has come down by nearly 70 per cent in the past five years owing to technological advancements. The Government of India is giving a 30 per cent subsidy to those using solar energy. “We have urged the State government to give 20 per cent subsidy from our side to encourage people,” he said.

Stating that Telangana was fortunate to have 300 sunshine days in a year, Aleem said the State government was also aiming to promote public as well as private investment in solar power generation. “We have to keep in mind that our future is solar, not thermal or hydro-energy,” he added.

Source: telanganatoday