Punjab takes leap in power sector

* Sukhbir Badal inaugurates North India’s biggest solar power plant
* Says Punjab to generate 2000 mw power through solar projects
* Waterlogged areas to get solar projects on priority
* Majithia urges farmers and people to use solar panels for pollution free power

Chandigarh/Panjawa (Lambi),Punjab today registered another major leap in the power sector with Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal inaugurating India’s biggest pollution free solar power project here which will generate 34 mw power and cater to the power needs of more than 250 villages comprising one lakh households.

Inaugurating the project, Mr. Badal who was accompanied by Non Conventional and Renewable Energy Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, apprised the gathering that by the end of this year Punjab will be able to generate 250 mw power from solar projects. He said by the end of December next year Punjab will achieve solar generation capacity of 2000 mw power.
Talking to media persons after inaugurating the project, Mr. Badal said the government was contemplating to install solar panels on the rooftops of tubewells and residential complexes. He said once the solar panels were installed on tube well rooftops the farmers of the state could get uninterrupted and pollution free power. He said this policy would not only reduce the power expenditure of consumers but also become a source of income since the farmers would be able to sell their surplus power to the grid. He said for this purpose the State government had formulated and approved a Net Metering Policy and people should come forward to generate requisite power through solar projects.
Answering a query regarding strategy of State for waterlogged areas, Mr. Badal said it had already been decided to put waterlogged area in the priority list for installation of solar projects. He said infertile land of villages and non-used panchayats land would be identified in waterlogged areas to initiate these projects.
On the issue of development projects in state, Mr. Badal said that the sole aim of SAD-BJP government was to ensure efficient governance and effective solutions to Punjab’s developmental challenges.
Non Conventional and Renewable energy minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia said Punjab was growing in the area of solar power in leaps and bounds. He said that this was the 6th project in the state, which would generate power at a cost of Rs. 350 crore. He said the Union Non Conventional ministry had given its nod to establish 1000 MW Solar Park for which process of land identification has been completed. He said it is also a matter of pride for Punjab that we have world’s biggest 7.5 mw rooftop solar power plant at Beas.

Earlier Chairman of Azure company Mr. H.S. Wadhwa, Mr. Inderpreet Wadhwa, CEO and Co-founder Mr. Preet Sandhu honoured Deputy CM and Mr. Majithia for their fulsome cooperation in installation of this project. They also thanked Punjab Government for this mega project spread over a land of 170 acres.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion Mr. Avtar Singh Brar, chairman PRTC, Assistant Media Advisor to Deputy CM Mr. Harjinder Sidhu, Mr. Kanwarjit Singh Barkandi, Mr. Balkaran Singh, OSD to CM Punjab, Mr. Tejinder Singh Middu Khera and Mr. Satinder Jit Singh Manta.