Ludhiana police go green: 13 police station get solar plants for electricity

LUDHIANA: In one of its kind of project has been launched in Ludhiana, in which 13 out of total 28 police stations under Ludhiana police commissionerate will get electricity from solar power plants, which was inaugurated by Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Friday at Jamalpur police station.
The solar plants have been installed under 'Ujaala - ek Changi Shuruat' scheme under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which would not only benefit the environment but also will benefit police for Rs 12 lakh annually.
DGP Yadav while appreciating the initiative of Ludhiana police asked the Commissioner of Police Mandeep Singh Sidhu to bring all 28 police stations and other wings under the scheme. Yadav also said that the Punjab police will make efforts to cover nearly 400 police stations of the state under the scheme.
Besides Jamalpur police station, solar systems have been installed at Police station Moti Nagar, PAU, Division number 1, division number 2, division number 5, division number 6, Division number 8, police station Sadar, Dugri, Model Town, Sahnewal and Shimlapuri.
The DGP 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 further added 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.
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.
CP Mandeep Singh Sidhu said that the power generated through these solar panels would replace conventional energy and provide backup power during shutdowns. CP also thanked the representatives of ICICI foundation, Hero Cycles, Ganga Acrowools, Findoc and Oswal Group for their support in this environmentally sustainable endeavour under CSR.