The total number of approved solar parks has risen to 33 in 21 states with an aggregate capacity of 19,900 MW, an official statement said on Saturday.
"As against 25 solar parks planned, the ministry (of new and renewable energy) has approved 33 solar parks in 21 states with aggregate capacity of 19,900 MW," said Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) managing director Ashvini Kumar in a statement.
The SECI is the implementing agency and has already released Rs.54.93 crore to respective states from the sanctioned Rs.374 crore.
Power and New and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal told a parliamentary consultative committee of his ministry that installed solar power capacity in India has crossed 5,000 MW in January and would achieve the target of 18,000 MW by the end of 2017
At the meeting held in Tirupati, he said India initiated the world's largest renewable energy programme by increasing the existing 3,500 MW by five-fold to 175 GW to be achieved by 2022.
The meeting also attended by MPs Bharat Singh, Om Prakash Yadav, Sushil Kishore Singh and Jayadev Galla reviewed the progress made by Solar Park Scheme and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) measures aimed at reducing emissions.
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MNRE Secretary Upendra Tripathy said the ministry has launched several projects like Scheme for Development of Solar Parks to achieve 20 GW through ultra mega solar parks.
Top executive from MNRE, NTPC and National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) gave presentations gave presentations on their initiatives.