UN 'very appreciative' of India’s solar power donation

Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said media that United Nations is “very appreciative” of India’s donation of Gandhi Solar Park and is using electricity it generates. Farhan was speaking at daily briefing on vember 11 when he made statement. Reporters asked him if solar panels given by India were being used and if y would power escalators that have been shut down in UN’s austerity drive. To this Haq said that issue with escalators is an issue having to do with UN's budget. move was a result of cost-cutting measures, he said. UN Committee will review budget and bring in more services online once money comes in, he added.

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UN cash crunch affects fountains, escalators

UN was undergoing cash crunch as its biggest contributors, including US have t paid all ir dues. As a result, world body had to introduce austerity measures on October 14 which included symbolic measures like turning off fountain in front of UN headquarters and escalators. UN has restricted travel, reduced translation and multilingual interpretation. only escalators that remain functional are ones used by media and staffers. Staff on or floors w use lifts and fire escape staircases. As solar park inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi provides free electricity, re was a proposal to use it to power escalators. 

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About Gandhi Solar Park

solar roof produces electricity of upto 50 kilowatts. PM Modi donated it to commemorate 150 birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and to underline New Delhi’s commitment to fighting climate change. At a contribution of about USD 1 million, India gifted solar panels that have been installed on roof of UN Headquarters here, one panel each for every 193 UN member states. Energy generated in park is equivalent to energy created through use of 30,000 kilograms of coal. 

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