The Fact News Service
Chandigarh, March 10
Punjab New & Renewable Energy Energy Sources Minister Aman Arora termed Chief Minister S Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government’s Budget 2023-24 as a visionary to save environment and ramp up renewables in the state.
Hailing the budget presented by Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, Aman Arora said that Punjab Government has intended to solarise all diesel-based agriculture pump sets in next five years with the mission to solarise the entire agriculture pump sets of the state by year 2030.
The solarisation of agri-pumps will not only save diesel cost incurred by farmers but it will also save the environment from pollution, he said, while adding that it would prove as a game changer for farmers and the state.
He informed that the present Renewable Energy installed capacity is 2,227 MW which is approx. 16% of total installed capacity of the State. Requisite measures are being taken to increase Renewable Energy capacity to 50% of the installed capacity by year 2030 in line with the National Agenda for clean energy sources.
Mann Government is also aggressively pursuing the development of Compressed Biogas (CBG) projects which utilise surplus paddy straw to the tune of 16.54 million tons per annum. The State Government aimed to take the desired actions to increase the paddy straw usage by 5 to 6 million tons in CBG projects by year 2030.
Mann Govt committed to ensure optimum use of solar power in the agriculture sector, Aman Arora said that solarisation of pumps will lead to reduction in the carbon footprint in agriculture power usage in the state.
