New Delhi, July 23 (IANS): As many as 55 cities in 27 states and union territories are currently being developed as solar or green cities, parliament was told on Thursday.

So far, 55 existing cities in 27 states/UTs are being developed as solar cities in the country under 'Development of Solar Cities programme', Power and New and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.

The new and renewable energy ministry has been implementing the programme under which a total of 60 cities and towns are proposed to be supported for development as "solar or green cities".

Mahabubnagar in Andhra Pradesh, Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, Indore in Madhya Pradesh, Jaipur in Rajasthan and Leh in Jammu and Kashmir have only got in-principle approval till date, said Goyal.

The criteria set by the ministry for the identification of cities include a city having population between 50,000 to 50 lakh (with relaxation given to special category states including northeast states), initiatives and regulatory measures already taken along with a high level of commitment in promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy.