Plans to erect windmills at Kayathar and solar panels on port premises
With its power requirement standing at 40 MW a day, the V O Chidambaranar Port Trust in Thoothukudi has drawn a comprehensive plan to generate 30.50 MW solar and wind electricity, its chairman S. Ananda Chandrabose has said.
Speaking to reporters here on Friday at the end of a two-week intensive cleaning drive (Swachhata Pakhwada), Mr. Chandrabose said the VOC Port Trust, by executing a novel project at a cost of Rs. 1.50 crore, became the first major harbour in the country to provide power to the berthed ships from the wharf. This facility obviated the need for using on-board diesel generators which would pollute the environment as well.
As part of its environment-friendly measures, the port, which had been generating 500 KW solar power, had planned to erect windmills with a capacity of 25 MW at a cost of Rs. 225.80 crore at Kayathar and solar panels with the capacity of 5 MW on the port premises on an outlay of Rs. 151 crore.
“We plan to generate 30.50 MW from non-conventional energy sources by 2020,” Mr. Chandrabose said.
Other works
Detailing other development works, he said water sprinklers were being installed at a cost of Rs. 2.16 crore to cover the coal yard and air quality monitoring stations established on an outlay of Rs. 3.22 crore. Eight mobile hoppers, worth about Rs. 38.10 crore, were being installed on berth 3 and 4 to prevent cargo wastage.
The truck terminus with bath and rest facility for drivers would be ready by December, he said.
Vice-Chairman S. Natarajan, deputy secretary A. Vidhya and Chief Medical Officer Joseph Sundar were present.
Source:thehindu
