Vij: Haryana to set up solar power houses in villages for farmers
Haryana Energy Minister Anil Vij announced plans to establish solar power houses in every village of the state to promote solar energy among farmers. Speaking at a regional workshop organised by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in Jaipur on Tuesday, Vij emphasised that the initiative aims to ensure uninterrupted electricity for tubewells, thereby facilitating seamless agricultural operations.
“This initiative is based on the needs of farmers, particularly in areas with deep water levels where a 10-kilowatt motor cannot function effectively,” Vij said. He added that the Haryana Government is exploring all possibilities to implement this idea successfully.
The workshop, attended by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Prahlad Joshi and energy ministers from other states, included discussions on key schemes such as the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the PM-KUSUM scheme, renewable energy utilisation and wind power revival.
Haryana’s efforts in the solar energy sector were recognised during the event. The state’s power distribution companies (discoms) received significant incentives for their work in the rooftop solar sector. Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) received Rs 9.77 crore for 2019-20, Rs 10.52 crore for 2020-21, and Rs 11.89 crore for 2021-22. Similarly, Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) was awarded Rs 11.16 crore for 2019-20, Rs 8.01 crore for 2020-21, Rs 13.92 crore for 2021-22, Rs 9.58 crore for 2022-23 and Rs 14.58 crore for 2023-24.
Vij expressed optimism about the potential of solar energy to transform agricultural practices and reduce dependency on conventional power sources. "The Haryana Government remains committed to empowering farmers with renewable energy solutions," he said.
The workshop underlined the importance of renewable energy initiatives and collaboration among states to achieve sustainable development goals.
