Punjab govt allows pilot project for solar energy generation on farm land

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today approved the launch a pilot project for solar energy generation on agricultural land on rental basis, besides allowing farmers to undertake high-value cultivation of fruits and vegetables.

Chairing a meeting with a CII delegation, led by its national president Rakesh Bharti Mittal, here this evening, Singhalso agreed to send a joint deputation from Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) and senior officers from agriculture and horticulture department to visit Maharashtra to examine a similar project developed under CII.

Director General CII Chandrajit Banerjee informed the chief minister that several private players were interested in setting up solar plants over the land of farmers for a minimum lease period of 25 years, according to official release.

Underscoring the need to motivate farmers to move towards crop diversification, the chief minister hoped that the same project could be replicated in the Kandi area and south west Punjab, especially in the citrus orchards and vegetable-growing belt in the vicinity of Ludhiana and Malerkotla.

Singh also approved a green building pilot project, as suggested by CII, and expressed his willingness to implement the concept in the upcoming government medical college and hospital at Mohali.

He asked the Principal Secretary to work out modalities in consultation with Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) to evolve the necessary guidelines for making the concept mandatory for new government buildings to cut down substantially on the carbon footprint and also to save on energy.

Acceding to a request of the CII delegation, the chief minister ordered to immediately initiate steps for expediting clearances for increasing the frequency of flights between Delhi and Ludhiana to boost trade and connectivity.

Pointing out that the state was well equipped with a network of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), he said the youth could be suitably trained in different trades not only to cater to the specialised needs of local industry but also to serve as a ready market of trained labour in the country and abroad.

Evincing keen interest in developing the logistics sector in the state, the CM sought CII's support for setting up a centre of excellence in logistics to improve competitiveness in the sector and generate employment.

Better logistics will also give an impetus to supplementing farmers' income, through improved transportation and storage of perishable commodities like fruits, vegetables, milk & dairy products, fisheries and eggs, he added.