70 percent subsidy available on Solar Photovoltaic Lights: Virbhadra Singh

The people of the state can have access to the new and clean renewable source of energy in the form of Solar Photovoltaic lights (SPV) at 70 percent subsidy as per the guidelines of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh while presiding over the meeting of governing body of HIMURJA today.

He said that the people opting for grid connected rooftop solar panels/ power plant were being given 70 percent subsidy and the surplus power could be further sold to HPSEBL at the rate of Rs 5 per unit, which would also add to the income of the individual besides using the free solar power.

To empower the people in remote and rural areas of the state with 24×7 power by way of centralized solar power supply, HIMRUJA under the general scheme for individuals would provide 1 kwp each up to 168 kwp initially. So far 46 supply orders had been placed in addition for tribal areas, he said.

Mr. Virbhadra Singh said though hundred percent of electrification had been achieved by the state yet there were few off-shore habitations in very remote and tribal areas which were facing low voltage problem and untimely disruptions. The solar power was the only alternate for electrification of these left-out hamlets which will provide un-interrupted power through decentralized solar photovoltaic applications.

The Chief Minister said that the solar energy was more perennial and equally distributed across the state and it was prudent to have an energy mix rather than single source and hence coal and gas based sources should be substituted with clean and renewable sources for reliability and security.

The Chief Minister said that two solar cities were being developed in the State at Shimla and Hamirpur. Final master plan for the development of Shimla and Hamirpur cities as solar cities had been approved by MNRE, Government of India. Under the project 15 kWp Power plant had been commissioned at Panchayat Bhawan and 20 kWp at Old Bus stand in Shimla. To install 20 kWp Solar power plant at the Ridge, approval was awaited from Heritage Committee and 1790 SPV home lights for slums around Shimla were in the process of distribution.

Apart from this, efforts were afoot to install wind energy plants in Dalsah in Kullu, Bharmour in Chamba, Arsu in Kullu, Dalhousie in Chamba, at Kalp, Moorang and Pooh in Kinnaur, Kaza, Keylong, Lingti in Lahaul and Spiti, Dharamsala in district Kangra and Chopal in Shimla district, he added.