Rajasthan CM Plans to Make the State a hub for Solar Energy

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot has said that his government will bring in a policy to make the state a hub of solar energy.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has said that his government will bring in a policy to make the state a hub of solar energy. He said efforts are being made to generate 10,000 megawatts of additional power in the state in the next five years. 

“The government is going to introduce a new solar and wind energy to make the state a hub of solar power,” Gehlot said. 

The chief minister said a 1,000 MW solar park is being developed in Nokh, Jaisalmer, by the Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company Limited. 

About Rs 3,450 will be invested in it, he added. The people of the state will greatly benefit from the solar park, the chief minister added. Presently, Rajasthan is on the third position in the field of solar power and efforts are on to bring it to number one, Gehlot said.

Recently, we reported that the Maharashtra government is contemplating to prepare a policy wherein vacant plots and agriculture land will be taken on lease to set up solar energy projects. 

An Energy Department official said that many people have evinced interest in leasing out their land for a period of 30 years to set up solar projects. The land can be leased on rent at 8 percent as per the ready reckoner rates, he said. The state’s capacity for solar power generation is 1,500 MW, of which the current production is about 700-800 MW, the official added. The state has set a target of generating 14,400 MW power through non-conventional means. For this, apart from the vacant lands, water bodies will be used to set up floating solar panels through private partnership.

Earlier, the Rajasthan Electronics & Instruments Limited (REIL) issued a tender, inviting bids from interested parties for the installation of solar PV power plants with capacities ranging from 250 kW to 2 MW or more at various locations/substations of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) in the state of Maharashtra.