Chamba’s Haripur to get solar power boost

A solar energy plant, solar streetlights and a 200-kW rooftop solar installation will be established in Haripur Gram Panchayat of Chamba district at an estimated cost of around Rs 1 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal has said.

Presiding over a district-level committee meeting to review the progress of the scheme, the DC said departmental formalities for the proposed 200-kW solar power plant in Haripur are currently underway.

He directed the Block Development Officer, Chamba, and the Project Officer, HIMURJA, to coordinate with panchayat representatives to secure 6 bighas for the project and prepare a detailed project report. The DC also instructed them to expedite the preparation of the required FRA case.

Repaswal said 10 solar streetlights will be installed in each of the five wards of the gram panchayat. The Panchayat Ghar and four educational institutions will also be directly benefited under the scheme. He added that once the solar plant becomes operational, the gram panchayat is expected to generate an annual income of about Rs 10-11 lakh, which will help strengthen the financial condition of the panchayat and move it toward self-reliance.