CM urges to develop new grid sub-stations in Rajasthan under “GREEN ENERGY CORRIDOR”

Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje has urged the Centre to develop new Grid Sub-Stations for the evacuation of power generated in Rajasthan under “Green Energy Corridor”.

During her meeting with the Union Minister of State for Energy Shri Piyush Goyal at Shram Shakti Bhawan in New Delhi on Monday, Smt. Raje said solar power generation is increasing in Rajasthan and most of the solar power generated in the state will be exported to other states. She said setting up of solar power plants is much faster (9-12 months) than development of transmission capacity(18-30 months). She said Power Grid Corporation of India is developing transmission network under “Green Energy Corridor” which needs to further strengthened by developing at least five new 765/400 KV Grid substations in Rajasthan to facilitate the evacuation of solar power generated here.

The Chief Minister was thankful to Shri Goyal for sanctioning Rs. 2381 crores under ‘Deendayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana’. She said the state government has set up an ambitious target of 25,000 MW solar capacity addition in the state and in order to achieve this target, and also the national target of 100 GW solar capacity addition, the state government has issued the new ‘Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy-2014’. She said for the development of solar projects land laws have been amended and farmers are allowed to sub-lease their holding to investor firms without requirement of conversion. This will make farmers partner in development in Renewable Energy and also empower them, she said.

Smt. Raje said the state government has signed Joint Venture Agreements/ MoUs for development of solar parks of 26,000 MW capacity and solar power projects having capacity of 14000 MW under Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy, 2014. She said Rajasthan has advantage of high solar radiation and urged the Union Minister of State for Energy to take initiative to encourage power companies like NTPC to invest in Rajasthan. She said that NTPC may be advised to set up maximum capacity in Rajasthan.

The Chief Minister urged Shri Goyal to provide additional financial package to improve the financial condition, their reorganization and strengthening of power distribution companies in the state. She also laid emphasis on more central assistance to complete the targets of energy generation.

Chief Secretary Shri C. S. Rajan, Principal Secretary Finance Shri P. S. Mehra, Principal Secretary Energy Shri Sanjay Malhotra and other senior officials were present in the meeting.

The Union Minister of State for Energy assured Smt. Raje that his Ministry shall provide every possible support to the state government for timely completion of the ambitious energy projects of Rajasthan.

Jaipur/New Delhi, 10 August 2015