A solar power project. File picture

Kohima, Aug. 30: The Nagaland government has decided to tap solar and wind energy to mitigate the power crisis in the state.

The department of new and renewable energy will cover all the 11 districts under the programme. In the first phase, Kohima and Dimapur have been declared “solar cities”. The programme aims to reduce the consumption of grid power with renewable energy in the two cities by 10 per cent over five years.

Under the solar city programme, the department has inaugurated the Kohima City Cell and a 10kW solar power plant in Kohima. Streetlights and solar water heaters are being installed in and around the city. A solar power plant of 670kWp was recently installed in 47 directorates and offices of Kohima. For Dimapur, the final master plan for solar city has been submitted to the ministry for approval.

Assistant director of new and renewable energy Inaho Awomi said with global warming threats being felt across the globe and the fast-depleting fossil fuel sending red signals, new and renewable energy was the only solution to alleviate the looming crisis.

Under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, solar plants of 742kWp have been installed in Kohima, Mon, Tuensang and Lumami in Zunheboto district. The ministry has sanctioned 4,200 solar streetlights to be put up in the villages under the Mission soon. Altogether 6,766 solar lanterns and 1,045 solar hole lights were distributed recently.

The department will demonstrate renewable energy systems in places like Raj Bhavan in Kohima to create awareness about renewable energy. The department has purchased a mobile exhibition van fitted with renewable energy devices and three battery-operated solar bikes to create awareness.

Akshay Urja shops have been opened at Kohima, Dimapur, Kiphire, Mokokchung and Tuensang for wider sale and service of all renewable energy devices and systems.

A state level energy park is being constructed at Agri-Expo in Dimapur.

A 1MW hydro project on the Tsutsung in Mokokchung and a mini 300kW hydro project on the Nnorroi in Peren are being built. Pre-feasible studies are being conducted to set up hydro projects at 17 sites are under investigation.

Inaho said the department has installed two windmill power plants at the government college in Zunheboto and another at the Pfutesro chief medical officer’s office.

The department is also taking up bio-gas and manure management to mitigate climate change.