7 solar projects of 72 MW to be allotted soon: CM
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said tenders have been invited for setting up of seven solar power projects with a total capacity of 72 MW, which will be allotted within this month.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is taking several steps towards making Himachal Pradesh the country’s first ‘Green Energy’ by 2026 so that there is no damage to the environment of the state. Sukhu said apart from this, survey and investigation for setting up of eight projects of 325 MW is underway.
“It is for the first time that the state government is moving towards developing 200 panchayats of the state as ‘Green Panchayats’ in which 200 KV ground mounted solar plants would be installed,” he said. The income from these solar plants would be spent on the development works of the panchayat, he added.
Sukhu said in the solar energy sector, the 32 MW Pekhubela solar power project in Una district was dedicated to the public on April 15, 2024 and in the six-and-a-half months 34.19 million units of electricity has been produced, generating an income of Rs 10.16 crore.
He said that apart from this, a 5 MW solar power project at Bhanjal in Una district has been started on November 30, 2024 while the construction work of 10 MW Aghlaur Solar power project is expected to be completed this month.
He said that while harnessing green energy will help in environmental conservation, carbon emissions will also be reduced. “The green energy sources are renewable and do not get exhausted, which ensures availability of energy to future generations and plays an important role in reducing the ill-effects of climate change,” he said.
Sukhu said that draft DPR of two tonnes per day capacity plant of compressed bio-gas has been prepared. Apart from this, grid connected roof top solar plants and water heating systems will be installed in the state’s Bal and Balika Ashrams, Vridha Ashrams and Rajiv Gandhi model day-boarding schools.
