PATNA, Oct. 10 -- The Panchayati Raj department is planning to install solar panels on overhead water tanks and panchayat bhawans across rural areas. The initiative aims to reduce dependence on conventional energy for water pumps and electrical devices, while generating revenue by selling surplus power to the grid, officials said. The proposal aims at setting up 5 KW solar panels on the overhead water tanks constructed in wards of panchayat bodies in rural areas across the state as well as 10 KW solar panels over the panchayat bhawans in all 8000 plus gram panchayats in the state. The estimated cost of the new project is around Rs.5,200 crore of which Rs.4,800 crore would be spent for installation of solar panels on overhead tanks, constructed under the Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal while Rs.400 crore would be spent on the installation of solar panel over the panchayat bhawans, sources said. Confirming it, panchayati raj minister Deepak Prakash, said the proposal is in active consideration and would be launched in next three months after necessary approvals including from the state cabinet. The minister said the panchayats have spend around Rs.500 crore as electricity bill annually, and once, this new project is implemented the energy bill would get substantially reduced, officials said....