16-Mar-2023: 2.72 Lakh Solar Street Lights installed
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy launched Atal Jyoti Yojana (AJAY) on 20.09.2016 with the main objective to provide Solar Street Lighting Systems for public use at different locations for improvement in quality of life, safety and security.
Under AJAY Phase-I, the Parliament Constituencies of the states of Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh were covered. Subsequently, Phase -II of AJAY was launched in December, 2018. Coverage of AJAY Phase -II included Parliament Constituencies of the states covered in AJAY Phase-I, Hill States/UTs, North-Eastern States, Island UTs and aspirational district not covered in above mentioned States/UTs. The AJAY Phase-II was closed in April 2020.
In the AJAY Phase-I, over 1.35 lakh solar street lights were installed against sanction of around 1.45 lakh lights. Under AJAY Phase-II over 1.37 lakh solar street lights have been reported installed against sanction of around 1.50 lakh lights.
The ten aspirational districts of the state of Chhattisgarh namely Korba, Mahasamund, Bastar, Bijapur, Dantewada, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Sukma, Kankerand and Rajnandgaon were covered under AJAY Phase-II, of which solar street lights have been installed in Kondagaon, Kanker and Rajnandgaon districts.
North India's first Nuclear Plant is under construction in Haryana
North India's first nuclear plant, Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP), is under construction in Haryana. The plant will have two units with 700 MWe capacity each of indigenously designed Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR).
The Department of Atomic Energy has been given permission for forming joint ventures with PSUs for resources to opening up of atomic energy plants.
GHAVP has spent ₹4,906 Cr out of a total allocated fund of 20,594 Cr, with total financial progress at 23.8% as on date. Construction of other main plant buildings/structures is progressing well, including Fire Water Pump House, Safety Related Pump House, and Fuel Oil storage areas.
Purchase orders for major long manufacturing cycle equipment/components are already in place. Manufacturing of other equipment is in various stages and delivery at site is expected to meet the construction schedule. Construction of Water Duct from Tohana to GHAVP for meeting operational cooling water requirements has been taken up through Haryana Irrigation & Water Resources Department (HI&WRD).
Over the last 8 years, the Modi Government has given bulk approval for installation of 10 nuclear reactors.
4-Feb-2023: PM KUSUM deadline extended
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has extended the deadline to install 30,000 MW solar power capacity in rural India to March 2026 under PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Uttam Mahabhiyan).
PM KUSUM
- Launched in 2019 by MNRE to install 30,000 MW solar power capacity in rural India by 2022.
- Deadline extended to March 2026.
Components:
- 10,000 MW decentralized ground-mounted grid-connected renewable power plants.
- Installation of 20 lakh solar-powered agriculture pumps.
- Converting 15 lakh agriculture pumps connected to grid into solar.
Objectives:
- Enable farmers to set up solar power generation capacity on their lands and sell to grid.
- Increase income of farmers by selling surplus solar power to grid.
Achievements: 17.9 GW of tendered capacity till June 2021.
Significance:
- Incentivises farmers to sell surplus solar energy to states and augment income.
- Increases access to electricity in rural areas.
- Provides reliable source of energy for agriculture and rural activities.
- Helps contain climate catastrophe by reducing carbon emissions.
- Creates job opportunities and empowers rural communities.
Challenges:
- Financial and logistics issues for some farmers.
- Domestic availability of solar pumps.
- Depleting water tables and difficulty upgrading to higher capacity pumps in case of solar installation.
- Regulatory barriers and stability issues with integrating solar power projects into grid.