Rajasthan to get major solar power project
Aug 21, 2009
Special Correspondent

Pointing to future: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot with Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah in Jaipur on Thursday.

JAIPUR: Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah on Thursday held out an assurance that every village in Rajasthan would be supplied with power within the next five years, while pointing out that efforts were being made to establish a solar power project of 3,000 MW to 5,000 MW capacity in the State.

Addressing a function marking Rajiv Gandhi Renewable Energy Day here, Dr. Abdullah said his ministry would shortly chalk out an action plan for supplying electricity to villages which were not connected to the Grid sub-stations. He underlined the significance of non-conventional energy sources in this regard.

“With its rich resources of solar and wind energy, Rajasthan should show the path to the rest of the country in power production in the non-conventional sector ,” said Dr. Abdullah. Expressing concern over global warming and environmental degradation, the Union Minister said the country should gradually discontinue the exploitation of coal, gas and crude oil for power production and switch over to the environment-friendly resources of bio-mass and solar and wind energy.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the desert State with its availability of enormous solar radiation had a huge potential for becoming the leader in non-conventional power production. “The State Government has set the target for producing 500 MW power every year by harnessing wind energy in Barmer and Jaisalmer districts,” he said.

Union Minister of State for Surface Transport Mahadev Singh Khandela and State Energy Minister Jitendra Singh addressed the function.

Dr. Abdullah gave away prizes to the winners of a half-marathon and a race for women flagged off at Amar Jawan Jyoti near the State Assembly earlier in the day.