Delhi’s south civic body to install solar plants on top of covered drains

In a first in the city, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) is planning to install solar plants atop covered drains to generate green energy.

In a first in the city, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) is planning to install solar plants atop covered drains to generate green energy.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 6.88 crore. (HT Photo)

On a pilot basis, a solar plant of 500 kilowatt capacity will be installed atop a drain in Greater Kailash I (near B block and R block) and a solar plant of 750 kilowatt capacity will be placed atop a drain in Subhash Nagar. Municipal officials said the total estimated cost of both the projects is Rs 6.88 crore.

Officials said the South Corporation decided to implement such projects in areas under their jurisdiction after taking a cue the Gujarat government’s 2012 decision to install a canal-top solar plant on river Narmada. The Delhi government too has a similar plan — building a canal-top solar plant over Najafgarh supplementary drain — but the project is yet to take off.

“This initiative will be a part of the corporation’s renewable energy initiative. It will be easier for us to implement these projects because we have selected the portions of drains that are already covered. These projects will help us to save energy,” said Shikha Rai, chairperson, SDMC standing committee.

At Greater Kailash-I, SDMC officials said, solar panels will be installed at a height of 10 feet and a parking lot will be constructed under it. “Recently, the horticulture department redeveloped a park running parallel to this drain. For the convenience of people coming to this place, we have decided to utilise the space below the solar panels as a parking lot,” said a senior SDMC official, adding that the electricity generated from the solar plant will be used for running the under-construction sewer treatment plant at the park. “Funds raised from municipal bonds will be utilised to implement the project,” Rai said.

Meanwhile, work is expected to start at the Subhash Nagar drain after the civic agency confirms a company to execute the project. “We will cover one kilometre of the drain and the energy produced will be supplied to the nearby grid,” said a senior SDMC official.