Govt focusing on making Himachal ‘Green State’: CM

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said that a 2 Megawatt solar power plant has been installed to ensure and improve the power supply in the tribal region of Kaza. Appreciating the efforts of the officers and employees of the electricity board, who worked diligently to complete this project, the Chief Minister said the plant would be fully operational said within a few months with the addition of a 1 MWh battery storage system.

Sukhu said the government was focusing on maximising the use of solar energy to make Himachal a ‘Green State’. To achieve this objective, EV charging stations were being set up in various areas based on demand. “The government has approved the installation of 18 Megawatt ground-mounted and rooftop solar plants on vacant land near electricity board offices,” he said.

Apart from this, the state government is also working on installing rooftop solar systems on 50,000 houses across the state by 2026-27. As of now, 4,444 applications have been received for this scheme.

Sukhu said the state government was taking measures to make the state self-reliant by proper utilisation of resources. “These measures include rationalizing electricity subsidies, and the staff,” he said. Besides, the Chief Minister said the power project agreements signed by the electricity board were under review and loans taken at high-interest rates would be reassessed.

“This would help the board repay loans at lower interest rates and reduce its debt burden. It would play an important role in making the state electricity board self-reliant,” he said.