Narendra Modi push for solar projects

With the NDA government keen on making renewable energy among the chief sources of power generation, significant ministries like defence, defence production, home and petroleum & natural gas have been directed to expedite solar power projects on vacant tracts of land available with them.

According to highly-placed sources, in a recent meeting undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, these ministries were asked to facilitate power purchase agreements with state governments and also seek help from respective states (wherever their land is located) to set up transmission facilities.

Sources said that in line with the new tariff policy for the power sector, which the Union Cabinet had approved in January this year, the Prime Minister is learnt to have urged state governments to try and achieve the target of generating eight per cent solar energy annually. Setting up solar projects on tracts of land available with public sector undertakings coming under the jurisdiction of defence, home and petroleum ministries will help the aforementioned target, sources said. Land available with ordnance factories, paramilitary forces and other agencies are being targeted by the government for this.