Mumbai gardens to generate electricity under BMC’s Solar Tree initiative

Public parks in Mumbai are set to be transformed into smart energygenerating green spaces under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporationrsquos BMC lsquoSolar Treersquo project which aims to integrate clean energy with urban recreational infrastructureMumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde said the initiative will redefine public gardens by converting them into ldquosmart green centresrdquo that generate electricity while continuing to serve as recreational spaces for citizens She added that similar projects will be expanded across the city in the coming yearsThe Mayor was speaking at the inauguration of the Solar Tree project at Dr Chintamanrao Dwarkanath Deshmukh Garden in Mulund East developed under a Corporate Social Responsibility CSR collaboration between the BMC and Nayara Energy LimitedSolar installations across three gardensUnder the initiative Solar Trees have been installed at three locations Dr Chintamanrao Deshmukh Garden in Mulund East Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Recreation Ground and Shilpgram Garden in Jogeshwari A solar gazebo has also been set up at Shilpgram GardenThe total installed capacity of the solar trees and solar gazebo structures across these sites is approximately 693 kilowatts These installations are expected to generate around 124 lakh units of electricity annually and help prevent nearly 82000 kg of carbon dioxide emissionsOfficials said the project marks a significant step towards environmental sustainability and urban energy efficiency in MumbaiSpaceefficient green energy solutionA key highlight of the initiative is its space efficiency Compared to conventional solar installations the Solar Tree technology saves around 95 to 98 per cent of space making it particularly suitable for a densely populated city like MumbaiBlend of energy and aestheticsDesigned in the shape of trees the Solar Trees are expected to enhance the visual appeal of gardens while generating clean energy The solar gazebo provides shaded seating for citizens while simultaneously producing electricity offering a blend of recreation and renewable energySeveral civic officials corporators representatives from Nayara Energy Limited and local residents were present at the inauguration eventPrivate housing societies should get corporator funds for solar and rainwater harvesting projects TurdeEarlier this week a proposal to allow the use of corporator funds for solar power systems and rainwater harvesting projects in private housing societies was submitted to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC by Women and Child Welfare Committee Chairperson Minal TurdeTurde wrote to BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide requesting changes to the existing rules governing the use of corporator funds She said the move would help more residents benefit from development initiatives while encouraging environmentally sustainable practices across the cityIn her letter Turde pointed out that a large section of Mumbais population resides in private housing societies and contributes significantly to the civic bodys revenue through property tax water charges and other taxesThey should also be able to benefit from development initiatives supported through corporator funds Turde said in her representationHowever current rules do not permit the use of corporator funds for development work within private housing societies As a result many residents are unable to benefit from projects that could improve sustainability and reduce utility costs