The draft master plan of the Solar City project for the Cochin City prepared by International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) was presented before various stakeholders by Ashish Verma, Manager (Energy and Climate) of the Institute. The goal behind the project is to reduce at least 10 percent of the projected total demand of conventional energy at the end of five years by using renewable energy. The Solar City project is being launched as part of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s (MNRE) plan to develop 60 solar cities in India. Once implemented, Kochi will be the first city in Kerala to get the Solar City tag.

The suggestions, recommendations given by the stakeholders will also be incorporated in the draft. The final draft will be presented to the Kochi Municipal Corporation for its approval and the revised document will be submitted to the Ministry for approval. The Agency for Non-Conventional Energy and Rural Technology (ANERT), Thiruvananthapuram has been identified as the nodal agency for the implementation of the project.

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The budget for the programme will be shared by the state government, Ministry for New and Renewal Energy and Kochi Municipal Corporation. According to the draft document, a Solar City cell and a Solar City stakeholder committee will have to be set up for implementing the master plan.

Hon’ble Mayor Shri. Tony Chammany, Deputy Mayor Smt. Bhadra B, Kochi Municipal Corporation Town Planning Standing Committee Chairman Shri. K J Sohan, Kochi Municipal Corporation Secretary Shri. V R Raju was also present in the meeting.

The project is being coordinated by c-hed for the Kochi Municipal Corporation.