Azure Power, a leading company with expertise in affordable solar power generation, has been engaged as the implementing agency for rooftop solar power generation in the twin city of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.
While approving the appointment of the agency, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi directed officials to fast pace implementation of the project.
Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan, Health and Family Welfare Secretary Arti Ahuja, Principal Secretary Forest and Environment Suresh Mohapatra, Consultant for PPP projects Subhra Mishra and senior officials of various departments were among others present in the meeting.
He also asked the concerned State authorities to grant permission without delay to various Government offices, universities and colleges to put up solar power generation facilities over the roof top of their buildings.
As the project entails public-private-participation model, no institution is going to bear expenses required for setting up these facilities, said sources.
The quoted unit price per unit of solar energy is only `5.69 lakh which is much lower than earlier quotations, said Principal Secretary Water Resources Pradeep Kumar Jena who is also in charge of PPP projects management and supervision.
“Significant development in the field of solar power generation and technology and wide publicity of the tender process, such a low per unit price has been obtained,” said Jena, adding that the project envisages generation of 5 mw solar power with an investment of Rs 40 crore.
The project will be completed within two years of signing MoU with Azure Power, he added. Other PPP projects which also came up for discussion during the meeting were 4-laning of Sambalpur-Rourkela highway and street lighting in Bhubaneswar.
Also setting up of a heart centre in Jharsuguda, city bus facility in Koraput-Jaypur-Sunabedha area, slum development projects in Bhubaneswar, city bus facility between Cuttack, Choudwar, Athagarh and Banki and setting up of a
laboratory for quality testing of drinking water were taken up.