Virendra Singh Rawat / Lucknow
Looking to productively engage prisoners, the Uttar Pradesh government will soon start training jail inmates for making solar panels and LED bulbs.
With the state targetting to generate 22,000 megawatt of solar power in the next five years, the government is pulling all stops to achieve the ambitious goal.
Reviewing the UP energy sector imperatives recently, chief minister Yogi Adityanath has tasked officials with giving training to prisoners to make solar energy equipment including solar power panels, LED bulbs etc.
He reiterated the state’s commitment to environment protection and promotion of non-conventional energy to meet the growing energy needs.
“Solar energy is a useful medium from this point of view. Although efforts have been made in this direction in the last few years, yet we need more efforts, and to further accelerate it to achieve the goal of self-reliance in energy sector,” he underlined.
Meanwhile, he has ordered for drafting a new energy policy keeping in mind the growing energy needs and the evolving energy sector dynamics.
“Concerted efforts are required to encourage solar power generation. We have to minimise our dependence on conventional energy. Therefore, a new solar energy policy should be prepared to cater future needs. Our target should be to generate 22,000 mw of solar power in the next five years,” the CM added.
He said, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is working on a grandiose plan to develop Ayodhya town as a ‘Model Solar City’. “This project will set benchmarks for other cities. All necessary efforts should be made in a time bound manner.”
Yogi stressed that a conducive environment for the private sector investment in solar energy generation and storage will be created. He assured all necessary support, including easy availability of land and capital subsidy to investors.
He also harped on creating awareness to promote installation of rooftop solar power plants. In this regard, a solar cell will be constituted at the district levels. Besides, the MSMEs and startups will be encouraged to adopt and implement solar rooftop model.