by Punjabnewswire4u
CHANDIGARH, NOV 26
Emphasizing on the need to create awareness amongst the people for generating
solar energy for domestic consumption, the Punjab Governor Mr Shivraj V Patil
today asked the state government to make concerted efforts to decentralize the
generation of Solar energy to meet the ever growing demand of power in the
state.
Presiding over a high level meeting to review the untapped potential of solar
energy in the state, the Punjab Governor said every household across the state
should be encouraged to have Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) Panels on their rooftops
to augment the energy generation in the state. He opined that solar energy
should be made a mass movement to meet the power supply in domestic,
agriculture and industrial sector besides the religious institutions and
shrines especially the Gurudwaras. Mr Patil underscored the need to woo the
manufacturers of SPVs to set up their units in the state to ensure sufficient
supply of these panels for tapping the unutilized potential of solar energy in
far more meaningful and result oriented manner.
The Governor further said that solar energy could also be tapped with the
installation of SPVs along with the banks of the canals as Punjab
had an efficient canal network across the state. Explaining the rationale
behind the decentralization of generation of Solar energy, Mr Patil said land
in Punjab was very expensive and therefore Rajasthan and Gujarat
model were not viable here. He mentioned the state government should make it
mandatory for all the public as well as private buildings especially the
upcoming housing clusters to have installation of SPVs for the generation of
solar energy. The Governor said that 40% energy could be saved from the
conventional power by optimally utilizing the Solar energy. “We must
remember the energy saved was energy produced” he added.
Appreciating the NRSE Policy-2012 framed by the state
government, the Governor said it was deftly crafted to dispose of the biomass
in an efficient manner by generating power from agricultural waste besides
co-generation. He said the energy generation from the paddy and wheat stubble
was more suitable as there was an abundant stock of biomass besides this
process of energy generation was also environmental friendly because the
practice of burning this biomass resulted in heavy pollution causing health
hazards. Mr Patil pointed out in present context thermal as well as Hydel
energy was comparatively much costlier as compared to the Solar one. He said
that in future even the transport sector would also run on the Solar energy.
The Governor asked Mr Badal to send a high level delegation comprising
officers of PEDA and experts in the field of Non-Conventional energy led by theNon Conventional and Renewable sources Minister to study
the technology of Solar energy in Germany and China. Mr Patil assured the Chief
Minister that he would soon take up the matter with Government of India (GoI)
for giving special subsidy over and above the currently available to popularize
the concept of solar energy amongst the people in the state
Taking part in deliberations the Punjab Chief Minister Mr
Parkash Singh Badal highly appreciated the concern of Mr Shivraj V Patil for
convening this crucial meeting to deliberate upon the various dimensions to tap
the optimum potential of solar energy in the state as an alternative to the
conventional power generation. He said the Solar energy was the only
answer to make state self sufficient in the power sector in the near future
because excessive dependence on Thermal energy in future could be adversely
effected by the shortage of coal. Mr Badal impressed upon the Governor to also
convene a meeting of the officers of PEDA besides senior officers of the state
government with the renowned companies manufacturing SVPs to ensure its
uninterrupted supply.
The Chief Minister also agreed to the proposal of Mr Patil to
give subsidy on these panels to make them popular among the domestic consumers
in a big way. He informed the Governor that the state government was already
giving 70% subsidy on the Solar tanks used for Drip irrigations in the Orchids.
Mr Badal also apprised the Governor that the state government had already
initiated steps to make solar energy mandatory in the public and private
buildings especially in the houses constructed over an area of one Kanal and
above land in the urban estates. He also asked Mr Majithia to regularly update
the Governor regarding the progress of Solar energy projects in the state by
sending monthly report.
Speaking on the occasion Non Conventional and Renewable sources Minister Mr Bikram Singh Majithia
said that NRSE-2012 Policy would go a long way in transforming the power
scenario in the state by generating enormous power. He said that the
policy was aimed at maximizing and
improving the share of new and renewable sources of energy to 10% of the total
installed power capacity of the state by the year 2020 besides promoting
renewable energy initiatives for meeting energy/lighting needs. Mr Majithia
further said that the policy would also focus on creating conducive conditions
to woo private sector investments in NRSE projects along with
broader participation by public by giving a slew of incentives. The Minister
told Mr Patil that as per the new policy focus would also be laid to generate
nearly 1000 MW Power through Non Conventional and Renewable sources of energy
in the state by year 2022 adding that the new policy would also be instrumental
in bridging the gap between the demand and supply of Power besides ensuring
quality power to the consumers at affordable rates.
Prominent amongst other present in the meeting included Chief
Secretary Mr Rakesh Singh, Advisor UT Administration Mr KK Sharma, Principal
Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary to the
Governor Mr MP Singh, Principal Secretary Science Technology and Environment Mr
Karan Avtar Singh and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) PEDA Mr TPS Sidhu and
Director PEDA Mr Balour Singh.
No comments:
Post a Comment