In a major boost to the state and region’s green renewable energy, the first solar power plant was inaugurated in Udalguri, Assam by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma in an inaugural ceremony on 19th July which was attended by BTR Chief Pramod Boro, Power Minister Nandita Garlosa, Cabinet Minister Ashok Singhal, Mangaldoi MP Dilip Saikia and other dignitaries.
The first solar plant is a 25 megawatt one and is estimated to produce 5 crore units of electricity every year. This will provide great relief to consumers of Udalguri, Darrang and Sonitpur districts of Assam. Built at a cost of 300 crores and spread across hectares of paddy fields, this feat marks the state’s entry into green sector and future scope of shifting to renewable and clean source of energy which can meet the growing demand of the region.
The programme was hosted jointly by Azure Power and Assam Power Distribution Corporation Limited ( APDCL).
After this, another solar power plant of 25 Megawatt was inaugurated in Boko of Kamrup District two days later by the Hon’ble CM. It is significant as this shows the shifting focus to green energy. CM Sarma stressed on the need of more solar power infrastructure and expressed confidence that Assam will get significantly self-dependent on conventional sources of energy in the next five years. He even announced that usage of Petrol-Diesel in Assam willl get completely eliminated by 2031.
Global warming is a serious threat to existence of life on the planet and there is an urgent need to shift to renewable sources of energy and reducing the usage of conventional sources.
