Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 5: Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah today inaugurated 50 KWp solar photovoltaic power plant at Hajj House, Rail Head here today.
Installed over the rooftop of the Hajj complex, the Power Plant has been installed, under Jawahar Lal Nehru Solar Mission, at a cost of Rs 1.35 crore with Union Ministry of New & Renewable Energy contributing 90 percent of the project cost. The Ministry would also look after the Operation and Maintenance of the project for a specific period.
Minister for Hajj, Auqaf and Floriculture Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Minister for Housing and Horticulture Raman Bhalla and Minister of State for Science and Technology Feroz Ahmad Khan were also present on the occasion.
The solar power plant has been installed by Ministry of New & Renewable energy in association with the channel Partner M/s DD Solar Twenty Three India Private Limited, a Bergen Group Company and Jammu & Kashmir Energy Development Agency.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Farooq said that India has vast potential of renewable energy owing to its location and topography, adding that Union Government launched JawaharLal Nehru Solar Mission (JLNSM) in 2010 in the country to tap the solar energy. He said that the country has been producing over 13,000 MWp solar power so far, adding that it has set a target to produce one lakh MWp by 2027. He said the solar energy system has received massive response in the metropolitan and other big cities where people are using it to meet daily household energy needs for heating, cooking, lighting and other purposes.
The Union Minister asked the people to avail benefits of MNRE scheme for which the Union Government has sanctioned huge amount under various programmes across the country. An amount of Rs. 500 crore has also been exclusively earmarked for taping solar energy in Ladakh region, he maintained.
Dr. Farooq said that Jammu and Kashmir State has vast potential of wind energy and wind masts have been installed at Bidda in Reasi, Tata Pani in Rajouri and some places have also been identified in Ladakh division to tap this potential for energy generation.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister for Hajj, Auqaf and Floriculture Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed said that installation of solar plant would provide round the clock power to the important building easing dependence on regular electricity supply. He said that the Government was keen to utilize available Non-Conventional Energy sources in the State. He said that MNRE has given nod to various proposals mooted by the State Government under MNRE programmes, which would make the state self-sufficient in power.
Extending his thanks to Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy, Mr. Bhalla said that selecting the places of public importance like Hajj House, Aquarium Bagh-e-Bahuand Educational Institutions for installation of solar plants was a right decision as the benefit would go exclusively to the people. He also advocated for having solar plants at the religious places and shrines to benefit the devotees.
Feroz Khan said that the Jammu and Kashmir Government has drafted new Solar power policy under which the use of solar energy would be popularized among the people. He said many investors from the outside are showing interest in investing in the State under the sector.
Keeping in view importance of solar home lights in remote and hilly areas of the state, Mr. Feroz pleaded for sanctioning 1 lakh more solar lights for which a proposal has already been submitted to Union MNRE.
Among others, Special Officer, Auqaf, Abdul Sattar, officers from JAKEDA, Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, besides prominent citizens were also present on the occasion.
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