Gurudwaras to Have Solar Systems, As SGPC Wants Cheap Electricity

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has yesterday announced to install solar systems at historic gurdwaras to reduce the cost of electricity. The solar-generated electricity would be drawn for the preparation of ‘langar’ by steam.

SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur told in an interim meeting, that solar systems would be installed at gurdwaras, and a committee of office-bearers, officials, and technical experts would be consulted for its implementation.

Moreover, the plan of shifting to the steam method for ”langar” (food prepared at community kitchen) at gurdwaras is under process, including the making of cardboard and paper from the leftovers.

The apex Sikh body SGPC is going to install solar power plants in 79 historic Sikh shrines being controlled by it.

Additionally, SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal announced that they will be installing these solar power plants in around six Sikh shrines for the experiment, in the first phase. These solar power plants will help in bringing down the current electricity expenses almost to half.

Back in 2018, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) installed a rooftop solar PV plant with 1500 MWp capacity at the Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib.

At the inauguration of the solar plant, Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister RK Singh said, “India is making rapid strides in the field of renewable energy and we will overshoot the target of 175 GW renewable energy by 2022.”

Installing solar systems at Worship places has been in the plans as the Uttar Pradesh energy minister Shrikant Sharma had announced in December 2020, that places of religious importance in the state will be powered by solar energy by 2024. Among the cities cited by him were Ayodhya, Mathura, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Gorakhpur.

Rooftop solar would be the preferred medium to achieve the target of 670 MW, powered by central subsidies of Rs 859 crores and state subsidy of Rs 473 crores.