In a bid to make Punjab an eco-friendly and energy-efficient state as desired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Friday inaugurated rooftop solar power plants installed at buildings of 13 police stations in the jurisdiction of Commissionerate Police Ludhiana.
These 120kW solar plants have been installed in partnership with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as part of the project 'Ujaala— Ek Changi Shuruwat' at the police stations including Jamalpur, Moti Nagar, PAU, Division Number-1, 2, 5, 6 & 8, Dugri, Sahnewal, Shimlapuri, Sadar and Model Town.
DGP Gaurav Yadav, who was accompanied by Commissioner of Police (CP) Ludhiana Mandeep Singh Sidhu, said that the installation of 120-KW solar power plants in these police buildings would reduce carbon emissions amounting to 180 metric tonnes annually, besides, reducing hefty electricity bills, resulting in saving Rs 12 lakh annually. Installing 120 KW capacity solar power plants is equivalent to planting around 5500 teak trees, he added.
He further pointed out that these solar power plants have been set up under Net Metering Policy of PSPCL which allows eligible consumers to install rooftop solar photovoltaic (SPV) systems and offset their electricity consumption with the power generated from their solar panels.
Under net metering, power consumers are billed for the net amount of electricity consumed which will be the difference between the amount of electricity generated by the solar panels and the amount of electricity consumed from the solar grid, he added.
The DGP expressed hope that these solar power plants will transform police stations as 'Green Police Stations' and motivate others to adopt such renewable energy sources for making a clean and green Punjab. He also asked the CP to cover all police stations of Ludhiana.
CP Mandeep Singh Sidhu, while assuring the DGP to further expand the installation of solar panels at all the Police Station Buildings, said that the power generated through these solar panels would replace conventional energy and provide backup power during shutdowns.
Meanwhile, the CP also thanked ICICI foundation, Hero Cycles, Ganga Acrowools, Findoc and Oswal Group for their wholeheartedly support in this environmentally sustainable endeavour. He said that this would also enhance operational efficiency and enable to serve the community with enhanced productivity and effectiveness.