Hooda to give solar lanterns to girl student toppers

Chandigarh, Aug 20 (UNI) On the occasion of Rajiv Gandhi Akshya Urja Diwas, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today announced to implement a new scheme known as 'Shiksha Deep' in the state.

The Chief Minister, who was speaking at the national level celebrations of the Urja Diwas at Panchkula near here, said that under this scheme, LED solar lanterns would be provided to those girl students of each school in every village who would rank first in their respective classes of 5th, 8th, 10th and 12th.

During this year, the innovative scheme would benefit 19,000 girls and cost Rs three crore.

The Chief Minister also urged the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Vilas Muttemwar, who was present on the occasion, to introduce a chapter on renewable energy in the syllabus of classes 6th to 8th so as to make the children aware of the significance of renewable energy from an early age.

''we would not succeed unless we involve the children in a movement for such a vital cause.'' he added.

He also requested that a city of Haryana be included in the list of cities to be developed as Solar Cities in the country.

The Chief Minister said that 30 MoUs have been signed with ten Independent Power Producers (IPPs) for generation of 697.8 MW of power with an investment of Rs 3278 crores from 30 projects based on Biomass, Small Hydro and Wind Energy. The projects were under implementation and likely to be commissioned by mid 2009.

UNI MA JS1817