These will be the first cities in Haryana to be brought under the Development of Solar Cities Programme, launched by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

Mr. Hooda said the objective was to enable and empower the urban local governments to meet the energy challenges, reduce their dependence on fossil fuel, expensive oil and gas for energy and also to promote increased use of renewable energy. In all, 60 cities having a population of 5 lakh to 50 lakh would be supported for development as solar/green cities under this programme. The project aims at a minimum of 10 per cent of energy consumption of select cities coming from renewable energy and energy-efficiency measures.

“The State Government would be assisted in preparation of a master plan for increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy supply in these cities besides having in place institutional arrangements for implementation of the master plan,” Mr. Hooda added.he State Government would also be supported in awareness generation and capacity-building activities, including setting up of solar city cell in these cities for planning and implementation.

Mr. Hooda said the Centre would provide financial assistance amounting to Rs.48 lakh each for development of Gurgaon and Faridabad as solar/green cities.