Haryana Government has decided to install solar powered plants on gram panchayat lands through Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited (HPGCL).
A decision to this effect has been taken in the review meeting of New and Renewable Energy Department and HAREDA held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar Lal here on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister directed the Principal Secretary, Development and Panchayat Department, Sudhir Rajpal that a written communication should be sent to all gram panchayats with immediate effect that if they want to establish solar energy plant on their land, whether barren or fertile, then they can contact and submit their option to Renewable Energy Department provided that land should be at least 10 acres.
Apart from this, if panchayat establishes solar energy plant at its own resources then HPGCL Power Generation Corporation Limited would provide technical assistance. About 85 cases of open tenders and self connections which were pending were also disposed in the meeting.
Agriculture Minister OP Dhankar apprised in the meeting that Badhsa, Ghaglan and other villages of district Jhajjar have been applying time and again for establishing solar power plant. On this, it was decided that HPGCL would initially establish solar power plant in these villages on pilot project basis.
Apart from this, Dhankar also gave suggestions to move forward in the direction of solar energy poly house which would lead to promotion of use of solar energy and production of horticultural crops.