PNS | DEHRADUN
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched Solar Samriddh Uttarakhand Abhiyan (SSUA) at the first Solar fair (Saur Kauthig) of the State at Rangers Ground in Dehradun on Monday.
The CM also flagged off the solar van for solar energy public awareness in the programme.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that SSUA is a unique initiative towards energy security, environmental protection and sustainable development of the state.
The CM said that the sources of fossil-based fuels are limited and their use causes great harm to the environment. Solar energy is an unlimited source of power and it also contributes to preserving our environment. “In view of this specialty of solar energy, its use is continuously being encouraged across the country through various schemes and campaigns under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The PM has set a target of producing 100 gigawatts of electricity through solar energy by the year 2030. He has also set a target to make the country carbon neutral by the year 2070,’’ he said.
Dhami said that the State government has adopted a new solar energy policy with an aim of setting up maximum solar energy projects. He said that solar power plants are being installed on all government buildings in the State. Dhami said that a subsidy of 70 per cent is being given jointly by the union and State governments with the aim of promoting the installation of rooftop solar plants in the State.
He said that under the PM Suryaghar Yojana, a grant of Rs 90 crore has been given to about 11,000 for the solar power plants. A subsidy of 30 to 50 per cent is also being given on the installation of solar water heater plants for domestic and non-domestic consumers.
The CM added that under Mukhyamantri Solar Swarojgar Yojana, self-employment opportunities are also being provided to the residents of the State.
He said that the State government has set a target to establish solar plants with a capacity of 250 MW in residential and a total of 2,500 MW by the year 2027.
Cabinet minister Premchand Agarwal, MLAs Khajan Das, Brijbhushan Gairola, Savita Kapoor, position holder Vishwas Dabur, Padma awardee Anil Prakash Joshi, Secretary R Meenakshi Sundaram, MD of UPCL Anil Kumar, MD of UJVNL Sandeep Singhal, MD of PITCUL PC Dhyani and others attended the programme.
