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Punjab harnessing solar power in fields, targets 1,000 MW in two years
Chandigarh: Punjab, which produces a major share of the country’s foodgrain, is all set to tap solar power in the agricultural fields in a big way, aiming to generate 1,000 MW, up from the current 225 MW, by 2017, a minister has said.
“We are far ahead of many states to get investments in clean energy. Our aim is to tap 1,000 MW solar energy either from rooftop projects or from the fields by 2017,” Renewable Energy Minister Bikram Singh Majithia told.
“We have just launched a scheme in which we are encouraging the farmers to set up solar power plants ranging from 1 MW to 2.5 MW in the fields to promote clean energy,” Majithia, the brother-in-law of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, added.
In less than two months since launching the “Land on Lease” scheme, more than 3,500 acres have been offered by farmers to investors for setting up the solar projects.
Majithia said solar energy is one of the most abundant sources in the state, which averaged around 300 sunny days annually.
Officials of the state-run Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) say there has been a 25-fold increase in the solar power production in the state in just two years.
Currently, 225 MW has been tapped with an investment of around Rs.1,500 crore ($235 million). In 2012, it was just nine MW.
Majithia said a major chunk of the investment is coming from NRIs (non-resident Indians).
“NRIs alone have commissioned 42.30 MW solar power projects with an outlay of Rs.244 crore,” he said.
As per the latest scheme, a farmer can give land on lease after PEDA approval for 30 years at an annual lease Rs.35,000 to Rs.50,000 per acre with a five percent annual escalation.
“The lease amount would be an additional income for the farmers, who constitute 60 percent of the state’s total population. They could also cultivate certain crops on land where the solar panels would be set up,” Majithia said.
According to him, new projects of 229 MW capacity at an investment of Rs.2,100 crore have been granted clearance by the government.
Five acres of land and investment of Rs.5 crore is required for installing a 1 MW solar power plant. If a farmer wants, he can easily get a bank loan up to Rs.5 crore, a PEDA official told IANS.
A rooftop solar plant requires 100 sq ft of space.
Under the net-metering policy announced in November 2014, PEDA has got requests from 1,046 households for setting up solar plants. Net-metering measures the amount of power a household utilises and the amount it feeds into the state grid, for which it gets paid by the state government.
The minister had inaugurated a 2.10 MW solar plant owned by US-based NRI Ranbir Singh Chhina of Abundant Energy Private Ltd in a village located near the India-Pakistan border in Tarn Taran district on May 30.
With an investment of Rs.16.40 crore, this was the state’s first large-scale investment project in the fields.
The Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd will purchase electricity from the solar power producers. It has fixed Rs.7.04 per unit, a price that has been frozen for 25 years – the duration of agreement between the power corporation and the producer.
India’s largest rooftop plant of 7.5 MW at Radha Soami Satsang in Beas near Amritsar is all set to be expanded to 31.5 MW to become perhaps the world’s largest rooftop plant.
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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