  Optical conductivity of the trellis lattice t-J model at quarter filling is
calculated by an exact-diagonalization technique on small clusters, whereby the
valence state of V ions of NaV_2O_5 is considered. We show that the
experimental features at \sim 1 eV, including peak positions, presence of
shoulders, and anisotropic spectral weight, can be reproduced in reasonable
range of parameter values, only by assuming that the system is in the charge
disproportionated ground state. Possible reconciliation with experimental data
suggesting the presence of uniform ladders at T>T_c is discussed.
