In order to meet the ever growing demand of power, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to focus on creating alternative sources of energy such as solar power, and reduce the state’s dependence on conventional thermal and hydro power not only to cut cost of power generation but also to control pollution.

Speaking at a meeting on solar energy, Chief Minister Adityanath here on Monday said that electricity would play the most important role in making the state a one-trillion dollar economy. The consumption of electricity in UP is predicted to shoot up to 53,000 MW in the next five years, which is an increase of 16 per cent every year.

It is noteworthy that with investors from within the country and abroad coming to UP to invest in the state thanks to industry-friendly policies of the state government, the demand for electricity is likely to rise significantly in the state in near future to run industrial activities.

Therefore, CM Yogi has instructed officials to focus capacity building for solar energy to meet the increasing demand for electricity. The Yogi government has also brought the new Uttar Pradesh Solar Energy Policy-2022, under which many concessions have been given to the investors in the sector.

The Yogi government has already planned to build 18 solar cities in the state to increase the production of solar power. Noida and Ayodhya will be developed as solar cities first followed by development of 16 municipal corporations of the state.

Chief Minister Adityanath said in the meeting that power generated at solar cities will constitute 10 per cent of the total power generation in the state. Besides, emphasis was also laid on increasing solar power generation year after year so that cheap electricity could be made available to the people of UP including the investors.

In order to increase the production of solar energy, the construction of solar parks is going on at a rapid pace in Bundelkhand region. A solar park is being built here, which will produce 4000 MW of electricity daily. On the other hand, green corridors will be built for the supply of solar energy to various districts of the state.

In the first phase of the solar park, solar energy will be supplied from the electricity feeder meant for agriculture and supply in rural areas. So, solar energy will first illuminate UP villages. The pumps used for irrigation of the fields will also be completely operated with solar energy.