The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has reportedly allocated budget of Rs 152.6 million for installing solar photovoltaic units (SPV) in various government buildings in the state of Meghalaya. This news was shared by Zenith Sangma, power minister, Meghalaya to the assembly.
The plant sanction was done last month under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) which is targeting parity with off-grid tariff for solar energy by 2022.
According to Sangma, the buildings to be powered by solar energy include the likes of Meghalaya Assembly, the state secretariat and offices of seven district deputy commissioners. He further stated that 137 out of 158 remote villages of the state have already been powered by SPV home lighting system and also SPV street lighting system and SPV power packs have been put in place.
With over 106 un-electrified villages in 11 districts of Meghalaya proposed to be taken up under the JNNSM policy, the state is looking to tap the solar potential of the region. The state electricity regulatory commission has approved purchases of 2,222 million units of power for the year 2013-14 from state-owned Meghalaya Power Generation Corporation Ltd and other sources, the report added.
