Excelsior Correspondent
CHARAR-I-SHARIEF, May 29: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah today inaugurated 18 KW Solar Power Plant at Sub-District Hospital Charar-i-Sharief.
The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has approved 69 solar power plants for the State to be installed in as many health institutions as backup power supply units. This involves an amount of Rs. 32.70 crore. The tenders for 32 such units have been finalized and for the remaining the process is going on.
During the last three years, the MNRE headed by Dr. Farooq Abdullah has sanctioned over 50000 solar home systems for the 225 un-electrified villages and hamlets of the State. As many as 50 water mills have been upgraded while financial assistance to upgrade 2000 more such water mills for electricity generation and mechanical activities has also been approved.
The Union Ministry has also sanctioned 58 micro hydel projects being installed in remote villages to generate electricity. It has also sanctioned and installed solar water heating systems at 10 locations while solar photovoltaic power plants at 69 locations to generate 1.09 MWs have also been approved.
The Union Ministry has identified Bidda site in Reasi to set up a wind power project of the capacity of 10 MW. Solar power plants are also being set up at various religious and tourist places. The financial assistance approved by the Ministry amounts to Rs. 160 crore for these facilities while a major programme costing Rs. 437 crore has been launched to propagate large scale use of renewable energy in Ladakh region. MNRE has also sanctioned 15150 solar lanterns for 73 Gujjar Basties involving an amount of Rs. 5.30 crore.
The Chief Minister and Union Minister for MNRE also paid obeisance at the Dargah of Sheikh-ul-Aalam, Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani (RA) at Charar-i-Sharief and prayed for peace and development of the State and well being of the people.
They also inspected construction work of Khahkah and interacted with the people. They heard their views regarding various development schemes under implementation in the area patiently.
Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Science and Technology, Aga Syed Ruhulla were accompanying the Chief Minister and the Union Minister for MNRE.
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