Assam’s Janata Bhawan Inaugurates 2.5 MW Solar Project, Pioneering India’s First Green Secretariat
Guwahati, June 16, 2024: In a landmark event, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated a 2.5 MW solar project at Janata Bhawan on Sunday, marking the establishment of India’s first green secretariat. The inauguration ceremony was held in the meeting room of the Lok Sewa Bhawan, attended by Power Minister Nandita Garlosa and Chief Secretary Dr. Ravi Kota.
The solar project, boasting a capacity of 2.5 MW, will be maintained by M/s Madhav Enterprises for the next five years. This initiative is projected to save the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) approximately Rs 30 lakh per month, previously spent on electricity.
Expressing his enthusiasm on social media platform ‘X’, Chief Minister Sarma wrote, “Today, we took a giant leap forward in our goal to become a Net-Zero Govt, as I inaugurated a 2.5MW Solar Project in Janata Bhawan, making #AssamGreenSecretariat, India’s first Green Secretariat, which will run entirely on solar power & save ₹30 lakh/ month on electricity bills.”
The government has outlined ambitious plans to extend solar power to other government buildings across the state. Chief Minister Sarma has urged APDCL to prioritize solar projects in medical colleges and universities, with an ultimate goal of generating 3,000 MW of solar power in the near future. An initial target of 1,000 MW is set to be achieved in Karbi Anglong within the next two months.
Currently, Assam generates only 420 MW of electricity, significantly below the demand of 2,500 MW. The state government aims to bridge this gap through increased solar energy production. To date, 138 residents have benefited from the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana, with 1.8 lakh applications pending for solar panel installations, promising substantial reductions in electricity bills.
At present, Assam purchases electricity at Rs 10 per unit during peak hours, supplying it to customers at Rs 5.65 per unit, resulting in considerable losses for the power department. In response, APDCL has been directed to implement automatic power cuts in 8,000 government offices and educational institutions across the state, extending this measure to all government offices by 8 pm.
Effective July 1, senior officials, including the Chief Minister and ministers, will be responsible for paying the electricity bills of their government residences. Additionally, a reduction in electricity bills by Rs 1 per unit has been announced, starting April 1 next year.
Despite these challenges, the power department has managed to turn a profit over the last three years, contributing Rs 60 crore in revenue to the government exchequer. The solar initiative at Janata Bhawan marks a significant step towards sustainable energy and financial savings for Assam.
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