Delhi’s draft Master Plan 2047 has proposed using the city’s canals and drains to generate solar and hydro power as part of a wider push to expand renewable energy capacity in the national capital. The draft Master Plan of Delhi 2047 (MPD-2047), approved by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) last week and sent to the Centre for further approval, identifies existing waterways as potential sites for clean energy generation.
“Delhi has a number of canals and drains that can be utilised for harnessing solar and hydro energy as per feasibility. The concerned agencies are to leverage this potential for generation of energy as per feasibility,” the draft states. The plan also proposes bringing more greenfield areas under the agriculture-cum-solar farm scheme and increasing the use of renewable energy across public infrastructure, including metro stations, railway stations, airports, bus depots and stadiums.
Solar Push Across Delhi
The proposals build on the Delhi government’s earlier plans to install solar panels along the Najafgarh drain. Officials are exploring a project covering a six-kilometre stretch between the Dhansa Border and Ghummanhera.
The draft also calls for government buildings and institutional campuses with rooftop areas exceeding 500 square metres to install solar panels in accordance with the Delhi Solar Policy. Power Minister Ashish Sood recently said the government is considering measures to reduce consumers’ upfront solar installation costs through subsidies and advance payment of generation-based incentives.
Under the existing policy, installation of a 3-kW rooftop solar plant is eligible for a combined subsidy of Rs 1.08 lakh — Rs 78,000 from the Centre and Rs 30,000 from the Delhi government. Officials estimate that installing a 3-kW system costs around Rs 2.25 lakh. The MPD-2047 further proposes that public facilities progressively meet their electricity requirements through solar and other renewable energy sources, subject to feasibility.
Alongside renewable generation, the plan recommends developing an underground power transmission network within road cross-sections across the city in a phased manner, with land-pooling areas to be taken up on priority.