India’s first solar power plant opened in Amritsar
Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

Awan (Amritsar), December 15
The sun virtually rose in the border belt of Punjab with Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah inaugurating India’s first-ever 2-MW solar power plant here today.

The plant, set up by US company Azure Power in the independent power producers (IPP) mode in this sleepy village, started functioning as Dr Abdullah switched on its button in presence of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and local MP Navjot Singh Sidhu. The 2MW plant will subsequently be expanded to enable it to produce 5 MW of power.

Lauding the role of the state government, Dr Abdullah said it was the first important step taken by the Punjab Government in fulfilling the Centre’s target of producing 20,000 MW solar power by 2020 under its solar mission.

Speaking about the seriousness of rising pollution and worldwide outcry on cutting emissions, as being proposed in Copenhagen Summit, Dr Abdullah said this plant showcased the seriousness of the government to produce clean and emission-free power.

Abdullah said the task of the independent power producers was being facilitated by single window service in the ministry.

He said his ministry was targeting to produce 1,300 MW power from the energy sector within the next three years. He assured positive response to the demand of Badal to enhance subsidy on solar tube-wells for Punjab.

Badal assured him that the experiment of Awan would soon be replicated in the border belt of Punjab with three solar power plants of 10 MW in each border district.

Demanding restoration of enhanced subsidy on solar tubewells to the previous rate of Rs 1.80 lakh instead of the present rate of Rs 50,000, Badal said farmers of Punjab, despite 50 per cent deficient rains in the state, had produced a record 150 lakh tonne paddy for the national pool, spending over additional Rs 3,000 crores on diesel.

Earlier, Vishavjit Khanna, secretary, Science Technology and Enviroment, said PEDA was performing a pioneering role in attracting entrepreneurs in the clean power sector. He said PEDA had come out with zero-cost models to provide efficient streetlights in all urban areas of Punjab.