Centre to set up 2,000-MW solar plant in Punjab

The Centre today announced to set up a 2,000-MW solar power plant in Punjab, following the request by the state government for allotting a solar project.
This decision was taken by Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal, who led a high-powered delegation here during a meeting with the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, after marathon discussions to bring sweeping reforms in the state's power sector, an official release said.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who holds the portfolio of power
And Non-Conventional Energy Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, it added.

Goyal assured Badal that out of the 2,000 MW solar power generated in the state, 1,000 MW would be purchased by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).
He also promised that Mega Solar Project would soon become a reality in Punjab which would act as a catalyst to herald era of solar energy but at the same time he asked the state government to immediately identify the requisite land for this purpose.

He asked both the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) and Power Finance Corporation (PFC) to jointly fund the project of installing smart meters in the state at a cost of Rs 400 crore and the remaining Rs 100 crore would be borne by state government.

Union Minister of State also asked the state government to put up a comprehensive proposal to the Ministry for the usage of imported coal with low ash content instead of indigenous coal, which could also proved to be cost effective in view of its high quality.
Taking part in the deliberations, the Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal assured Goyal that he would personally supervise the entire process to identify the requisite land for the installation of 2,000-MW solar plant in the state.
He said it was a great initiative on the part of the Union government to help the state in augmenting its power generation in solar energy which was not only eco-friendly but also cost effective.

Badal also thanked Goyal for acceding to the state government's request to install smart meters over a period of next three years which would help the PSPCL to check the power pilferage and theft to great extent.
He also suggested the Ministry of Power to allow the state government to purchase nearly 523 acres of abundant land in Talwara Township under the jurisdiction of BBMB either at collector rates or on the basis of lease for 99 years.