The government has proposed that all Special Economic Zones should meet at least 25 per cent of their lighting needs through solar energy, a move that will go a long way in making SEZs green, even as consensus eludes climate change talks in Copenhagen.
"At least 25 per cent of the installed external lighting load should be solar powered," the draft guidelines for Green Special Economic Zones said.
The government also wants at least half of the requirement for billboards to be solar-powered.
The draft proposals intend to make all new and existing SEZs green as the government wants existing SEZs to go for green certification.
In addition to lighting requirements, the draft proposals also call for a minimum of 2 per cent of estimated energy consumption for each zone from solar or other forms of renewable energy and scale it up gradually.
"Over a period of 10 years, the solar/other forms of renewable energy must be extended from 2 per cent to a minimum of 20 per cent of total estimated energy consumption," it says.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh before leaving for Copenhagen Summit had said India, as a responsible member of the international community, has announced that it will reduce the emissions by 20-25 per cent in 2020 compared to 2005.
The all-new buildings in the SEZs, would have to be energy efficient as per the Energy Conservation Building Code, the guidelines say.
On water consumption, the government suggests at least 30 per cent of the rain water be harvested in each tax free zones, or SEZs.
The draft also says each zone should have its own eco-friendly transportation facilities like electric vehicles, CNG, bio-diesel or any other environment friendly fuels.
