HERC Chairman meets Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Discusses key issues in Power Sector

Repairing thermal plants, promoting solar energy, and effective implementation of central schemes were discussed

Under Section 86(2) of the Electricity Act 2003, HERC provides Technical Recommendations to State Government for Power Sector Improvement

Chandigarh Nov 16 - The Chairman of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC), Sh. Nand Lal Sharma, called on Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini on Friday evening. This was the first meeting between the HERC Chairman and the Chief Minister following the formation of the newly elected government.

During the meeting, several significant issues were discussed, including improvements in the power sector, the promotion of solar energy, improving thermal power plants, and the effective implementation of central government schemes related to the power sector. The importance of reducing AT&C losses was also discussed, emphasizing its role in enhancing electricity distribution efficiency, minimizing revenue gaps, and ensuring a more reliable power supply in Haryana.

It is noteworthy that under Section 86(2) of the Electricity Act, 2003, the State Electricity Regulatory Commission provides technical advice to the state government on matters such as restructuring, reorganization, production, transmission, and distribution of electricity. In this context, HERC Chairman Sharma’s meeting with Chief Minister Saini highlighted the need to improve Haryana’s thermal plants, enhance solar energy usage, and implement rooftop solar initiatives more efficiently. The discussion also emphasized the revolutionary implementation of the Prime Minister’s “Har Ghar Surya Yojana”.

Mr. Sharma informed the Chief Minister that during his tenure as CMD of Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN), his significant contributions led to the successful formulation of the scheme in collaboration with the then Union Power Minister. He added that the scheme will prove to be a milestone in achieving the Government of India’s target of generating 500 GW of green energy by 2030. As the current Chairman of HERC, his responsibility is to formulate effective relevant regulations and ensure their implementation in accordance with the Electricity Act of 2003.

Mr. Sharma elaborated on the "Har Ghar Surya Yojana," stating that it is an initiative of the Government of India under which solar panels will be installed on homes to provide free electricity. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi on February 13, 2024. The initiative aims to bring light to the lives of underprivileged families. Subsidies are provided to Antyodaya families for installing solar panels, potentially saving the central government approximately Rs 75,000 crore annually.

In addition to this, the meeting also addressed the current challenges in the power sector and their solutions. On July 31 this year, the state’s peak power demand reached 14,662 MW, which was effectively managed. Currently, Haryana has an installed power capacity of 14,943.92 MW, and the number of electricity consumers in the state has grown to approximately 8.1 million.

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Irrigation and Water Resources Minister held a review meeting with MICADA and HWRA officers

Micro-Irrigation project should be promoted, Comprehensive plan to be prepared for water segregation says Shruti Choudhry

Smt. Shruti Choudhry vows to fulfil vision of Late Chaudhary Bansi Lal by ensuring water for every field in Haryana

Chandigarh, November 16: Haryana Irrigation and Water Resources Minister, Smt. Shruti Choudhry said that ensuring irrigation water reaches every field in the state would be her top priority. She expressed her commitment to fulfilling the vision of her late grandfather, Ch Bansi Lal, who was instrumental in channelising the water courses across Haryana.

Smt. Choudhry made these remarks while presiding over a review meeting with officers of the Micro Irrigation Command Area (MICADA) and Haryana Water Resources Authority (HWRA) here today.

The Minister directed the officers to expedite the implementation of micro-irrigation projects, including drip irrigation and other water conservation initiatives. She also highlighted the importance of collaboration between the Irrigation and Water Resources Department and the Public Health Engineering Department to address the growing issue of waterlogging.

Smt. Choudhry further directed that a comprehensive survey be conducted within a week to assess water segregation across the state. The survey will focus on ensuring that industrial wastewater and treated water from sewage treatment plants (STPs) and common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) do not mix with clean water sources.

During the meeting, officers informed the Minister that MICADA is currently promoting 27 micro-irrigation projects across the state. Of these, 11 projects have been completed, while 13 are ongoing, and work on 3 new projects will begin soon. Additionally, under the Government of India’s ‘Per Drop-More Crop’ scheme, MICADA has been receiving subsidy components through the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Under the 'Atal Bhujal Yojana,' MICADA has been working since 2021 to cover 23,800 acres with micro-irrigation systems. Next year, the authority plans to expand this coverage to 46,258 hectares through the establishment of on-farm ponds. These ponds will provide irrigation water via drip systems, with a total project expenditure of Rs 518.97 crore. So far, 4,368 on-farm ponds have been established across Haryana.

Smt. Choudhry also acknowledged the critical role played by Beldars and Canal Guards in monitoring command systems and water resources. She stressed that these positions are vital to the department’s operations and directed that the vacant Beldar posts be filled promptly. Beldars should be equipped with GPS devices for better tracking and management of water resources, she added.

The Minister also called for the identification of new water storage projects, urging the Haryana Ground Water Regulatory Authority to take the lead in this regard. She announced plans to hold weekly video conferences with all Superintending Engineers (SEs) and Executive Engineers (XENs) to review canal water availability and receive feedback on ongoing water management efforts.

She also shared her plans for a surprise visit to HathniKund barrage in Yamuna Nagar , STP and CETP in Panipat soon for the inspection of the command area system.

The meeting was attended by the Chairperson, Haryana Water Resources Authority (HWRA), Smt. Keshni Anand Arora, Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Satbir Singh Kadian, and other senior officers.