New Delhi: The huge investments being made by companies in the solar energy sector have opened up great opportunities for permanent employment in Uttar Pradesh, thanks to Yogi government’s initiatives.
The UP government’s Solar Energy Policy 2017 is not only dispelling darkness from every village of the state, but also creating plethora of opportunities for people to earn their living from it. In the last four and a half years, solar power projects of 1,370 MW capacity have been commissioned while projects of another 417 MW capacity are under construction.
Big investors are coming forward to invest in the solar energy sector in the state. Besides, several investment proposals for solar power projects are currently under Government’s consideration. The Government has set a target to achieve 10,700 MW capacity solar power generation by the year 2022, and is working on plans for setting up a solar park and an ultra mega solar park in the state.
Solar power projects open up job opportunities in UP
In the midst of these efforts of the State Government, thousands of people have got employment in solar energy projects in UP while power supply has become more regular in rural areas and the environment is also benefiting with increasing use of renewable solar energy. The business of solar panels, solar lights, solar batteries and solar cookers has also picked up in the state, providing jobs to thousands of people.
It is worth mentioning here that the Yogi Government prepared the Solar Energy Policy 2017 soon after assuming office in order to promote private participation in the field of solar energy. Open access was given to companies for the establishment of solar park and third party sale of solar energy.
Under the incentive provisions of this policy, 100 per cent stamp duty exemption and 100 per cent exemption in electricity duty for 10 years is being given to investors through online single window clearance system. This has led to 11 private companies in solar energy sector set up their plants in seven districts of the state, namely Bundelkhand, Banda, Chitrakoot, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Jalaun, Jhansi and Lalitpur to date. The solar power units are generating more than 550 MW of electricity daily.
People getting electricity more regularly and at cheaper rates now
Solar energy production has also started in Chhibo village of Chitrakoot, the world famous religious place, with the commissioning of a 25 MW solar power plant by a private company. Besides, the REC Power Distribution Company is setting up a 50 MW solar power plant in Kanpur (Dehat) and 75 MW solar plant in Jalaun. Many other private companies are also setting up solar power plants in different districts of the state.
Solar energy sector has been one of the priority areas of the Yogi Government because of its multi-dimensional benefits, which has led to over two dozen solar power projects get off the ground in UP with a total investment of Rs 8,905 crore so far. Besides, solar rooftops of 235 MW capacity have been installed in the state with the efforts of the Government.
Today, the markets and roads in UP’s countryside are lit up with solar street lights. Under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Solar Street Light Scheme of the Government, solar street lights have been installed in 25,569 markets whereas preparations have been made to set up 13,791 solar street light plants in selected revenue villages under Mukhyamantri Samagra Gram Vikas Yojana.
Furthermore, 19,579 solar pumps have been installed to benefit farmers. The installation of 1,80,000 solar power plants has transformed the picture of UP’s villages. The rural folks that yearned for four hours of power supply during previous governments due to frequent power outages, are getting regular power supply with the massive investment in the solar energy sector during Yogi Government.
Solar lights, solar-powered tubewells dot villages
The result of the Government’s initiative is that ‘Energy Conservation Building Code 2018’ has come into force to save energy in commercial buildings. The Government also invited private investment of Rs 2,492 crore under Bio-Energy Enterprise Promotion Policy, which led to establishment of solar power units of 180 MW capacity at a cost of Rs 720 crore. For the first time, 2,937 solar RO water plants were set up in primary schools to provide pure drinking water to children studying in these schools.
Meanwhile, the business of installation and sale of solar lights and panels has picked up in UP because of the Government’s initiatives to promote use of solar energy in the state. Shops dealing in solar panels, solar lights, solar cookers and solar batteries have opened in every district and block of the state. The owners of these shops have hired many people, who are lighting people’s homes with solar power while also earning their livelihood from it. As for people, they are getting electricity more regularly and at cheaper rates.
Apart from this, private solar-powered tubewells are being installed in the state under PM Kusum Yojana. Thousands of rural youths will get employment at the local level for the maintenance of the equipment related to solar energy. The environmental benefit will be a bonus due to non-burning of diesel and irrigation through solar pumps.
