Varanasi: Under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary Energy and Additional Energy Sources Narendra Bhushan, a meeting of the State Level Committee constituted to consider the proposals received from the Municipal Corporations in the year 2024-25 under the Solar City Program was held in his office room located at Bapu Bhawan Secretariat.
It is noteworthy that under the Solar City Program, 10 percent of the total electricity consumption of the cities of Ayodhya, Gorakhpur and Varanasi is to be obtained from solar energy.
In the meeting, along with giving approval for smart solar street lights in Municipal Corporation Ayodhya, smart solar street lights, solar high mast and solar street lights in Municipal Corporation Gorakhpur and smart solar street lights, solar high mast, solar street lights, solar tree and water kiosk in Municipal Corporation Varanasi, in-principle consent was given to other proposals.
It is noteworthy that out of the 40 MW solar power plant being set up on the banks of river Saryu under Ayodhya Solar City, 14 MW has been installed, work on the remaining 26 MW is in progress. Also, targets of 50000, 75000 and 75000 respectively have been set to cover the domestic consumers under the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme in Ayodhya, Gorakhpur and Varanasi.
To achieve this, the Municipal Corporation and Chief Development Officer were instructed to prepare an action plan and to publicize it extensively. UPNEDA will prepare promotional material for the wide publicity of the said scheme and make it available to the district administration. A target has been set to install solar rooftop plants on 25 lakh houses in the state.
Under this scheme, grants are being provided by the Central and State Governments. For installing a 1 kW solar plant, a grant of Rs 30 thousand from the Centre and Rs 15 thousand from the State, totaling Rs 45 thousand, is being received. For 2 kW, a grant of Rs 60 thousand from the Centre and Rs 30 thousand from the State, totaling Rs 90 thousand, is being received.
For 03 kW, a grant of 78 thousand from the center and 30 thousand from the state, totaling 1,08000 rupees is being given. For more than 03 kW, a grant of 78 thousand from the center and 30 thousand from the state, totaling 1,08000 rupees is being given.
For installation of the plant, banks are providing loans at 07 percent interest rate. The estimated cost of the plant is approximately Rs. 60 thousand per kilowatt. Consumers can install a 03 kW plant with an EMI of only Rs. 1100. Installing a solar power plant saves two-thirds of the electricity bill.
The amount spent by the consumer in installing the plant is reimbursed in the form of savings in 3-4 years. The duration of the plant is 25 years. Hence, for the remaining years, the consumer receives the electricity produced from the plant free of cost. A 03 kW plant will save approximately 10 lakhs in 25 years.
On getting the solar rooftop plant installed from an empanelled vendor of UPNEDA, the consumer receives the grants from the Central and State Government in their accounts after the installation of the plant. To avail the benefits of the scheme, one has to apply online on the national portal https://pmsuryaghar.gov.in/. No grant will be admissible for getting the plant installed from any other vendor other than an empanelled vendor. Along with the officials of UPNEDA, CDOs of the concerned districts and officials of Municipal Corporations were also present in the meeting.
