Ludhiana: Punjab Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu today said that under the Ludhiana Smart City project, solar panels will be installed in 25 government schools and 2 government colleges.
He said that with the completion of this project these schools and colleges would be fully capable of using solar energy. This will not only save money but also help in saving our environment by generating green energy.
The Cabinet Minister also inaugurated the Government Senior Secondary Smart School, Punjab Agricultural University, and Sidhwan Canal Waterfront Project.
On this occasion Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu (Chairman Ludhiana Nagar Sudhar Trust), Raman Balasubramanian (S. D. M. Ludhiana (West)), Amarinder Singh Malli (District Education Officer), Swaranjit Kaur (PEDA District Manager), Anupam Nanda, Karanjit Singh, Soni Ghalib, Sunny Bhalla, Inderjit Singh Indi, Sukhpreet Singh Aulakh and others were present.
On this occasion Ashu informed that the work of installation of the solar panel at Government Senior Secondary School, Haibowal Kalan has started from today.
He said that this project would cost a total of Rs. 4.3 crore and on completion of this project it would generate 803 KW of green energy. Upon completion of the project, it would generate 10.50 lakh units of electricity per annum, saving Rs. 62 lakh per annum, which was paid by schools and colleges at current electricity rates.
Ashu said that these solar panels can be operated for 25 years and the cost of installation is recoverable in five years. After this, the Cabinet Minister reviewed the ongoing work in Lear Valley and Sidhwan Canal Waterfront Project and issued necessary instructions to the authorities.
He said that under the waterfront project the adjoining strip of the Sidhwan canal would be developed from Pakhowal Road to the Municipal Zone-D office near Ferozepur Road, an open public space for the citizens of the city. The total cost of the project is Rs 4.75 crore and it is about 1100 meters long and 20-22 meters wide.
The Cabinet Minister said that under this project activities like green belt, dedicated bicycle track, sports zone, walking track along the canal, seating areas, wall climbing were being developed. In the second phase Sidhwan Canal (Pakhowal Road to Dugri Road) would be developed. He further said that cycle tracks would be constructed on both sides of the double track along the green belt and canal.
He further said that four Lear Valleys were being developed in Ludhiana (West) constituency of the city for a clean environment and exercise for the people of the city.
The land for Lear Valleys was being provided by Ludhiana Municipal Improvement Trust and Municipal Corporation Ludhiana. Ashu further said that the vacant land near the DAV school is being used for dumping the garbage. He said the site would be transformed into one of the city’s best Lear Valley.
The Municipal Corporation would also construct a rainwater recharge well here. Mr. Bharat Bhushan Ashu informed that the project near the DAV school will be developed by the Horticulture Department of the Punjab Agricultural University and will feature modern infrastructure, benches, plants, lighting, etc. He also said that the Lear Valley would have tennis, badminton, and volleyball courts as well as a senior citizen’s home, open gym, and other facilities.