Bhopal: Chief Minister Kamal Nath said that priority should be given to solar power in the state. Besides promoting decentralized solar projects, efforts should be made to ensure consumption of the produced power in the state itself. These instructions were given by Nath during a high level meeting held with the officers of the New and Renewable Energy and Energy Department at Mantralaya on Thursday. Minister for New and Renewable Energy Harsh Yadav and Minister for Energy Priyvrat Singh also took part in the discussion.
Nath told to select 20 viable blocks, which can provide full electricity for agriculture works through solar power. He mentioned that solar projects should be set up in the selected blocks. Nath set a target for the Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam for installation of 2 lakh solar pumps in the state. He further stated that these solar pumps should be installed at those places, where line expansion would be done under the Mukhya Mantri Sthayi Pump Yojana. He said that by installing solar pumps, we can save the expenditure to be incurred on line expansion. Nath also gave instructions for using solar power in industries too.
Besides, Nath said that consumers of various categories should be encouraged to install decentralized solar projects. Efforts should be made to meet demand of consumers through decentralized solar power. The Chief Minister sought Discom’s cooperation in net metering of solar setup to be installed by the common consumers on rooftop so that the transmission and distribution loss could be reduced.
The Chief Minister told the Energy Department that solar power produced in the state should be bought. Other institutions should also be told to give priority to purchase solar power. Nath asked them to ensure employment to people getting affected by setting up solar projects
It was informed during the deliberations that 1500 megawatt solar project is being set up in Agar-Neemuch and Shajapur by the New and Renewable Energy Department. Government land has been allotted to establish the project. The World Bank has given its consent to provide loan for the project. The Chief Secretary SR Mohanty, Additional Chief Secretary Energy ICP Keshri, Principal Secretary New and Renewable Energy Manu Shrivastava and Principal Secretary Industries and Public Relations Rajesh Rajoura were present at the meeting.