Japan's Fuji Electric will send a team of its representatives to Andhra Pradesh by December-January to do a feasibility study for a smart grid project in the state.
The company agreed to this when Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is currently visiting Japan, made a request Wednesday.
The company has already sanctioned permission to do a feasibility study for a smart grid project in Panipat of Haryana, according to a statement from the chief minister's office.
Naidu explained his plans to develop three mega cities and 14 smart cities in Andhra Pradesh and sought Fuji Electric's help in building these cities as his team visited Smart Grid Community (Fuji Electric). The mayor of Kitakyushu City gave a presentation on environmental policy.
The city administration involves industry, public sector and consumers in the creation of integrated systems to make it eco-friendly. Kitakyushu City is being developed as a pilot project under the "Japan Smart City" programme.
Naidu was was informed that the smart grid monitors the consumption of energy and forecasts the demand for the next 24 hours to make energy management efficient.
On the third day of his visit, the chief minister also visited the Nakata Waste Management site in Fukuoka city.
Following a 13-minute film on the city's waste management system, a presentation on landfills was made. In the presentation, the chief minister was briefed about the semi-aerobic method which is environment-friendly.
This model, developed at the Fukuoka University, was experimented for three years. This is a cost-effective method which is being implemented in several countries like China and Iran. The chief minister was informed that the landfill can be reclaimed and used for residential or farming purposes. These landfills can be converted into useable land resources.
Naidu said Andhra Pradesh has many similarities with Japan. "We have a 1,000 km-long coastline, natural resources and tourism potential."
He said that he wants to build a capital with Japan's expertise and incorporate best practices into it. "I want to build the capital on both sides of the Krishna River," he said, adding Vizag too is on his agenda."
Consul General of India Aseem Mahajan said that they will facilitate fruitful long-term relationship between AP and Fukuoka.
Naidu and his team visited the San-no storm water reservoir site for flood-control management.
Following floods in 1999, a deep structure was built where all the water from the city gets collected. Roads and city are drained by the storm water system and the water collected in the deep structure is pumped back into the reservoirs.
The chief minister said that his state can learn flood-control measures which improve management of storm/flood water and enhance water availability from this system.
