Jaipur/Chandigarh: Haryana Energy Minister Anil Vij while talking to media said that “I have suggested to my government/department that a solar power house should be built in every village so that all the tubewells there can be supplied power from that solar power house, enabling all farmers to operate their tubewells. This will also prevent any objections from farmers.”

Vij was speaking at a regional workshop organized in Jaipur by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy with Energy, Power and Renewable Energy Ministers from various states. The workshop was also attended by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshiand other Energy and Power Ministers from different states.

The Haryana Energy Minister mentioned that his suggestions were made considering the needs of farmers, especially in areas where water levels are deep, and 10-kilowatt motors are not viable. He noted that the KUSUM scheme has also been initiated for farmers, and Haryana has successfully achieved its target, ensuring that every farmer in Haryana can operate their tubewells using solar energy.

Vij said, Haryana government has decided to provide an additional Rs 50,000 under the PM Surya Ghar Yozna. He explained that the Prime Minister introduced the Surya Ghar Yojana, which he considers a form of providing free electricity to lower-income groups. Through this initiative, solar panels are installed on rooftops to provide affordable electricity to households. The government is offering subsidies for this, with the central government providing Rs 60,000 and the Haryana government contributing an additional Rs 50,000. This brings the total to Rs 1,10,000, which is close to the overall cost, requiring individuals to invest only a small amount through bank loans, making electricity virtually free, he added.

He said “Helping someone by providing them employment is a permanent solution” and explained that “This is the real way to provide free electricity to a family and a way to help people. To illustrate, if a person is hungry, feeding them satisfies their hunger for a while, but after two hours, he will be hungry again. Instead, providing them with a small job empowers them to earn and sustain themselves, which is a permanent solution.”

Vij emphasized that instead of distributing freebies, people should be empowered so they don’t have to rely on others. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for teaching this approach. He added that the PM Surya Ghar Urja Yojana is being implemented rapidly in Haryana to ensure its benefits reach everyone. By adopting solar energy, individuals can significantly contribute to the country’s development.

Vij said that “Our future is looking up to solar energy, as the sun is a primary source of energy. Energy, in various forms, is derived from the sun. Coal, for instance, originates due to solar processes. Even petrol is formed through numerous processes influenced by solar energy.” He said that human beings are made up of five elements: fire, water, air, earth and sky. Among these, fire represents the sun. While other resources have been extensively exploited, the beauty of the globe has been tarnished in the process. He observed that despite various efforts at the international level, environmental conservation has not achieved the success it should have, even with the imposition of multiple restrictions by the UN.

Vij highlighted the importance of maintaining a clean and sustainable environment, as energy is indispensable for human life, industries, and transportation. He noted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has embarked on the path of solar energy, which has vast potential and can be developed efficiently.

Vij said that Haryana discoms Honored with Incentives for Outstanding Work in Rooftop Solar Sector. In the workshop organized for the northern region, key discussions focused on the PM Surya Ghar: Free Power Scheme, maximizing the use of renewable energy, successful implementation of the PM KUSUM scheme, and the revival of wind energy power plants.On this occasion, Haryana discoms were honored with incentive awards for their exceptional work in the rooftop solar sector and for surpassing the set capacity targets.

Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) was awarded incentive amounts of Rs 9.77 crores, Rs 10.52 crores and Rs 11.89 crores for the years 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22, respectively. Similarly, Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) received incentive amounts of Rs 11.16 crores, Rs 8.01 crores, Rs 13.92 crores, Rs 9.58 crores, and Rs 14.58 crores for the years 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24 respectively.

The Energy Minister assured the Union Minister that Haryana would continue to promote renewable energy with the same enthusiasm in the future. The event was also attended by Haryana’s Director General of New and Renewable Energy Department, S. Narayanan, Senior Officers of New and Renewable Energy department, and other officials from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.