Chhattisgarh's new capital to use solar energy

Raipur, Mar 27 (UNI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh today said that 25 per cent of the energy requirement of 'Naya Raipur' -- the proposed state capital -- would be met from solar energy.

Inaugurating 'Power Vision' -- a national conference of investors and stakeholders in the power sector -- he said here than an action plan was being finalised to utilise solar power to meet the new capital's requirement.

Pointing out that his government was keen to promote use of solar energy, Dr Singh said that the state would encourage investors in this sector instead of setting up conventional coal-based power plants.

''As far as setting up coal-based plants is concerned, we have reached saturation point,'' he said adding that the state already signed memoranda of understanding with several companies for power plants so as to generate about 40,000 MW with investment of Rs 1,84,000 crore.

Pointing out that power would play a vital role in the state's economy once these projects were commissioned, the Chief Minister said that about 8,000 to 10,000 MW would be generated by 2010.

''This will add about Rs 10,000 cr to the state exchequer,'' he added.

Referring to industrialisation, Dr Singh said that the state was focussing on energy, steel, cement and aluminum sectors. ''We are sure that Chhattisgarh will achieve tremendous growth in the next few years so that it can top in these sectors by 2010-11,'' he added.

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