)
Former President A P J Abdul Kalam today inaugurated a 250 kilowatt (kw) mini solar power system in Kannauj district of Uttar Pradesh.
Kannauj is the parliamentary constituency of UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav's wife Dimple Yadav. Both the leaders were also present on the occasion.
The solar power installation is off-grid and would electrify Fakirpura and Chanduahar villages in Tirwa tehsil of Kannauj.
Earlier, UP New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (NEDA) had commissioned energy solutions major Su-Kam to install the 250 kw mini off-grid solar system to electrify these two villages, which were still off the grid.
The total cost of the project is pegged at about Rs 6.15 crore, including civil, electrical and mechanical installations, besides distribution line and household wiring.
Also Read
The solar power system would power 60 LED street lights and provide energy to 450 households comprising about 2,000 people, apart from commercial establishments, two schools, a training centre and a healthcare facility in the twin villages.
It would also energise 15 submersible water pumps for irrigation facilities.
"As part of our solar plan this fiscal, we are bullish in making solar power available to both the urban and rural residential as well as commercial sector in UP," Su-Kam managing director Kunwer Sachdev said in a press communique.
So far, Su-Kam Power Systems has provided solar lighting solutions to about 40,000 rural households through similar installations.
In all, UP is targeting solar power generation of 500 mw by 2017. It has already signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with some private companies to set up solar power plants in the state.
Akhilesh is keenly pursuing solar power agenda in addition to increase in thermal power to provide 22-24 hr power supply in the state before the state goes to polls in the early part of 2017.
