Bhopal, Apr 6: Bhopal Municipal Corporation is contemplating over making the use of solar energy mandatory on the pattern of water harvesting in big buildings with a view to saving electricity and lessening its expenses.

Municipal Corporation would begin the plan with its buildings.

The corporation is going to make water-harvesting compulsory in big buildings to check the depleting ground water level.

Building permission would be given only after installing water-harvesting system in the building. Seeing the situation of power crisis the corporation has become alert to save electricity.

An America-based institution Iklai has given proposal related to use of solar energy to the corporation.

The Municipal Corporation has given directives to the corporation officials including OSD, City Engineer, Executive Engineer, electricity and city planner.

A team of municipal officials would soon go Nagpur to participate in a workshop and another workshop in Chennai on 'Energy Efficient Buildings'.

Corporation officials believe that the big buildings of the city like schools, hostels, colleges, government buildings and industries should be forced to use solar water heating system. In would save energy to a great extent.

The corporation along with this is also preparing a scheme for saving electricity. In this connection microprocessors would be used at switching points to save electricity.

Similarly, Municipal Corporation is preparing for installing solar lights at public places, its offices and parks etc.

Bhopal Municipal Corporation is preparing for the same relief from huge bills as the electricity is being misused and the government has to bear double losses. On one hand the government has to exercise a lot on power generation and on the other it has to pay a large amount in the form of electric bills.

The municipal corporation has to pay Rs 40 to 50 lakh every year as electricity bills for running water treatment plants, streetlights, parks and buildings.

If it starts using solar energy in all of its big buildings, then it would save on large-scale expenses on power bills.

The administration is considering over this scheme. The officials have been given directives to seek its possibilities, said Bhopal Municipal Commissioner, Nikunj Kumar Shrivastava while talking to Central Chronicle.