SHIMLA -13 January, 2025-Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said here today that the State Government was trying to harness green energy on a large scale. He said that tenders have been invited for setting up seven solar power projects of total capacity of 72 MW, which are being evaluated. He said that their work would be allotted to the concerned companies this month. Apart from this, survey and investigation of 8 projects of 325 MW is going on. He said that for the first time the government was moving towards developing 200 panchayats of the state as 'Green Panchayats' in which 200 KV ground mounted solar plants would be installed and the income from them would be spent on the development works of the Panchayat.
Chief Minister said that in the solar energy sector, the 32 MW Pekhubela Solar Power Project in Una district was dedicated to the public on 15 April, 2024 and in the six and a half month period from April to October 2024, 34.19 million units of electricity have been generated through this project, generating an income of Rs 10.16 crore. He said that apart from this, a 5 MW solar power project at Bhanjal in Una district has been started on 30 November, 2024 while the construction work of 10 MW Aghlaur Solar Power Project is also expected to be completed this month.
Sh. Sukhu said that the present State Government is taking several steps towards making Himachal Pradesh the country's first 'Green Energy' by 2026 so that there is no damage to the environment of the state. He said that while harnessing green energy will help in environmental conservation, carbon emissions will also be reduced. He said that green energy sources are renewable and do not get exhausted, which ensures availability of energy to future generations and plays an important role in reducing the ill-effects of climate change. He said that apart from this, draft DPR of two tonnes per day capacity plant of compressed Bio-gas has been prepared. Apart from this, grid connected roof top solar plants and water heating systems will be installed in the State's Bal and Balika Ashrams, Vridha Ashrams and Rajiv Gandhi Model Day-Boarding Schools.