New Delhi: The government has proposed that
all SEZs should meet at least 25 per cent of their lighting
needs through solar energy, a move that will go a long way in
making SEZs green, even as consensus eludes climate change
talks in Copenhagen.
"At least 25 per cent of the installed external lighting
load should be solar powered," the draft guidelines for Green
Special Economic Zones said.
The government also wants at least half of the
requirement for bill boards to be solar-powered.
The draft proposals intend to make all new and existing
SEZs green as the government wants existing SEZs to go for
green certification.
In addition to lighting requirements, the draft proposals
also call for a minimum of two per cent of estimated energy
consumption for each zone from solar or other forms of
renewable energy and scale it up gradually.
"Over a period of 10 years, the solar/ other forms of
renewable energy must be extended from two per cent to a
minimum of 20 per cent of total estimated energy consumption,"
it says.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh before leaving for
Copenhagen Summit had said India, as a responsible member of
the international community, has announced that it will reduce
the emissions by 20-25 per cent in 2020 compared to 2005.
PTI
First Published: Friday, December 18, 2009, 16:14