Sun and steam, TTD cooks clean on giant system

Tirupati, Apr 6: The Non-Conventional Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NEDCAP) has installed the world's largest steam cooking system at Tirumala with a capacity to prepare 30,000 meals a day for 'Annadanam' at the famous Sri Venkateswara Temple.

The Rs 1.10 crore project is part of NEDCAP's efforts to reduce carbondioxide emission, which contributes to global warming.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is expected to save about 475 litre of diesel a day for 250 days in a year, NEDCAP Chairman Sagidurga Prasad Raju told a press conference here yesterday.

The payback period was four years. The Non-Conventional Energy Sources Ministry had provided Rs 47.75 lakh as subsidy for the period, besides saving 50 per cent of diesel, thereby reducing carbandioxide emissions by apporoximately two tonne per day.

Similar systems were likely to be implemented shortly in other famous temples in the state including Srikalahasti and Kanakadurga Temple.

He added that NEDCAP was setting up a six MW wind energy project at Kakulakonda, near Gogarbam Dam in Tirumala Hills on BOLT basis.

To be implemented by NEDCAP through Suzlon Energy Limited, the project would help TTD save Rs 1.20 crore during the first six months of commencing generation.

UNI