LMC plans to switch to solar energy now

Once the plant is installed, the LMC would save a whopping amount every month which it pays as power bill

LUCKNOW:The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) is now planning to use solar power for street lights, parks and municipal offices.

LMC officials say that they are close to finalizing a Pune -based company for setting up roof top solar plant at the LMC office.

Once the plant is installed, the LMC would save a whopping amount per month which it pays as power bill.

Around ₹80 crore per year is cut from LMC aid and given to LESA in lieu of power consumption. In addition to this, the LMC office at Lalbagh pays electricity bill ranging between ₹ 13 to 15 lakh per month.

“We are also thinking of setting up solar street lights to reduce burden on our finances. This will help us use the amount saved for other development work ,” said municipal commissioner Indramani Tripathi.

“LMC will promote solar energy in its parks and offices. This will not only help reducing expenses but save a lot of power for the state.”

LMC has over 3,200 parks in the city and if they are used for solar power generation, then the energy generated can be served back to the LESA grid .

LMC GOES TOUGH AFTER SNAG IN GPS DEVICES

The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has adopted a tough stance with staff concerned after it found that 90% of the GPS devices installed in its vehicles developed technical snag within 4 to 6 days of installation.

The municipal corporation has 110 big trucks and more than 300 small vehicles with GPS devices but they became defunct within no time and were unable to pinpoint the location of the vehicles and distance covered.

“There is something fishy. The GPS devices have been changed several times but they again develop a technical problem. Apparently this is done deliberately so that LMC drivers and other staff can sell off the diesel,” said an official on condition of anonymity.

Municipal commissioner Indramani Tripathi said he had already warned the staff of rubbish removal department about not tampering with the device.

“I have also ordered to keep the cameras of Lucknow Municipal Corporation petrol and diesel pump in order or else strict action would be taken. A scam in diesel and petrol will not be tolerated. I will not hesitate in taking action against any corrupt employee,” said Tripathi.

“Only technology can bring about a change in the work culture of employees. Now they would be aware of the fact that they are under constant watch and they cannot lie. This will also benefit us because now no driver would be able to throw the garbage anywhere as we would be able to track the movement through GPS. Not only this, the petrol pump staff would also be under the scanner,” he said

In charge of rubbish removal department Ram Nagina Tripathi said that tracking of garbage collection trucks through GPS technology was already being practiced.

“Recently we have caught some drivers selling diesel in the open market. The LMC has acted against them,” he said.