On a day world leaders began
discussing climate changes in Copenhagen, the Governor's House here became the
country's first Raj Bhavan to launch a solar power project for supplying energy
to the building.
President Pratibha Patil Monday launched the project by switching on 12 solar
energy operated Light Emitting Diodes (LED) fixtures on the northern side of
the Raj Bhavan.
The Rs.1 crore project envisages building a 50 KW grid interactive Solar PV
power station in Raj Bhavan along with a 2,000 Ltrs. Solar Water Heating System
and use of LEDs.
Entirely funded by the ministry of New and Renewable Energy Sources, the
project is set to be completed by March next year.
The 206-year-old magnificent edifice with its sprawling lawns looked majestic
in the LED lights, as a choir sang songs of Rabindranath Tagore suiting the
occasion.
Later, New and Renewable Energy Sources minister Farooq Abdullah said that his
ministry has set aside Rs.1 crore for each of the Raj Bhavans in the country to
implement similar solar projects.
Abdullah thanked Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi for pioneering the Raj Bhavan
scheme.
Abdullah said there were plans to include heritage sites like the Victoria
Memorial here and famed and old temples located in various parts of the country
in a bid to popularise renewable energy.