Capacity of solar units in villages to be increased

Raipur, May 26, 2012

The government has decided to increase the capacity of the solar units installed in distant rural areas. In this connection, Chief Minister Raman Singh convened a significant meeting of the senior officials at his residence after returning from his five-day tour to Mumbai where he had participated in BJP national executive.

Singh said that during his recent tours to the rural pockets under government’s gram suraj abhiyan he found several villages having solar units installed for the past couple of years.

“These villages are receiving 24 hours electricity through these solar units. But the population of these villages have increased now and the purchasing power of the villagers too has gone up. Consequently, the villagers are using television, cell phones and other modern electrical and electronic gadgets. For this, they need more electricity which can only be supplied if the existing capacity of the solar units would be increased,” he said.

In this connection, the CM took detailed information from Energy Secretary Aman Singh and MD of Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) SK Shukla.

On CM’s directives, the CREDA has included 25 villages of Jashpur district where the capacity of solar units will be increased. The villages are – Dolduba, Khakhra, Kohapani, Jahrgaon, Kanseera, Margi, Badbanai, Kaprol, Patia, Sankra, Khutitoli, Alori, Lutki, Bhatta, Darigaon, Pakhara, Vidurpur, Khadpona, Madhva, Kere, Chalani, Badekona, Amgaon, Joteka and Seekri.

According to information, the government will install about 117 watt solar electric panels in these villages at the cost of Rs 3.62 crore.

The CM has further directed the officials to identify such villages in Rajnandgaon, Kabeerdham, Raipur, Raigarh and Kanker where traditional electricity could not reach and where the villagers still depend on lanterns at night.

He said at least 22 such villages and eight majra-tolas should be included in the first phase and solar units should be installed there. For this, he also gave approval of Rs two crore.

The 22 villages which will be included in first phase are – Rajnandgaon – Maloda, Ghaghra, Kabeerdham – Hidur, Mahla, Hachkot, Pitechur, Raigarh – Tedasemar, Didwanara, Rampur, Dahidand, Raipur – Kamarbundi, Chindoula and Balodabazar – Turturia.