Expressing concern over the reckless energy consumption in government buildings, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Amarinder Singh on Monday ordered for energy audit of all government buildings and educational institutions in the state.

The move is aimed at promoting energy conservation, while, at the same time, cutting down on the hefty expenditure on electricity, currently being incurred at these buildings, an official spokesperson said.

The energy audit will be carried out by the Punjab State Council of Science and Technology (PSCST) at all government buildings and educational institutions in the state.

The CM issued the orders while chairing the 13th meeting of Pushpa Gujral Science City (PGSC) Society on Monday.

The spokesperson said while expressing concern over the reckless energy consumption in government buildings, institutions and offices, Amarinder said the audit would help in saving electricity in the larger public interest, thereby leading to conservation of the dwindling energy resources.

The CM’s directive came after executive director, PSCST, Jatinder Kaur Arora, apprised the meeting of the energy audit carried out by the Council of the Pushpa Gujral Science City (PGSC).

Following implementation of various energy conservation measures at a meagre investment of Rs 1.7 lakh, Arora said, the PGSC is having energy saving of Rs 12 lakh per annum. PGSC was awarded the National Energy Conservation Award by the President for the project.

The council has also carried out energy audit of several other building complexes such as ‘Viraasat-E-Khalsa’, ‘Mandi Board’, Inder Kumar Gujral ‘Punjab Technical University’, besides various industries.

During the meeting, the CM also gave his approval to PGSC for the upgradation of its Science City theatre from 3D to 5D. He was informed that a gallery on Robotic Dinosaurs was being set up in PPP mode, while the IMAX FILM “Everest” was all set to be relaunched, on public demand, from June this year in the Space Theatre of the Science City.

The CM was further apprised about various other programmes of the PGSC, including a Mobile Science exhibition for rural masses, door-step Night Sky Watching, and an Innovation Hub that provide facilities to youngsters to nurture new ideas and boost inquisitiveness.

Nearly 3.5 lakh students visited the Science City last year, of which 1.5 lakh were from government schools across the state under the ‘Mukh Mantri Vigyan Yatra’. The education department plans to arrange the visit of over 2 lakh students during the current academic session.