*Kejriwal Govt’s Historic Initiative for Solar Energy in Delhi - Govt to install 50 MW grid-connected rooftop solar system on 645 Delhi Government & MCD buildings
*Under Kejriwal Govt’s Solar Plants Initiative, all Delhi Govt and MCD buildings larger than 500 sq. meters to install rooftop solar plants
*Project for the installation of solar rooftop plants approved by Power Minister Atishi
*645 government buildings to include educational institutions, healthcare facilities, DTC Depots, DTL substations, and more
*Rooftop installation on Government buildings will make them sustainable, self-reliant and energy-efficient, they will be able to meet their energy needs on their own and increase Govt savings - Power Minister Atishi
*This initiative is part of the Delhi Solar Policy, which aims to significantly increase solar power generation and usage across the city- Power Minister Atishi
*With projects like these, despite the surge in electricity consumption in Delhi, our target is to generate 25% of the city's electricity through solar power plants by 2027- Power Minister Atishi
New Delhi; 12TH MARCH, 2024-In a groundbreaking move to revolutionize the national capital's energy sector, the Kejriwal government is set to embark on a visionary project to install a 50 MW grid-connected rooftop solar PV system on 645 Delhi government and MCD buildings, which are larger than 500 square meters. The total power capacity from these plants is projected to be 50MW. Power Minister Atishi approved the solar plant installation initiative, and said that this move is aligned with the recently approved Delhi Solar Policy, aimed at increasing solar power generation and usage across the city.
Under the plan, approximately 645 Delhi Government/MCD buildings with area exceeding 500 square meters, encompassing educational institutions, healthcare facilities, DTC Depots, DTL substations, and more, will undergo the installation of solar power plants and facilities.
Power Minister Atishi, highlighted the significance of the initiative, stating, "The Delhi Solar Policy, passed by the cabinet on January 29, 2024, is being hailed as one of the best and most progressive policies in India. This policy is key to expand the use of solar power in Delhi’s green energy contribution and total power capacity."
She added that with such an initiative, we are working towards making our government buildings more energy-efficient so that they become sustainable and complete their energy needs by themselves.
Ms Atishi further emphasized the ambition of the solar policy, revealing, "Despite the surge in electricity consumption in Delhi, our target is to generate 25% of the city's electricity through solar power plants by 2027. This endeavor positions Delhi to outshine every other state in the country in terms of solar power generation."
=================================
****
*Another guarantee of Kejriwal fulfilled, government planted two crore saplings in four years instead of five
*During assembly elections, CM Kejriwal had given 10 guarantees, which included planting two crore saplings in five years
*Government is trying to reduce pollution by increasing green cover; green cover in Delhi increased from 20% in 2013 to 23.6% in 2021: Gopal Rai
*Next year, Kejriwal government in collaboration with 21 departments has set target of planting 63 lakh plants in Delhi: Gopal Rai
*Instructions to all departments to conduct third-party audit to know actual status of trees and plants planted so far: Gopal Rai
*Environment Minister Gopal Rai held a joint meeting with 21 agencies regarding tree plantation in Delhi next year
New Delhi, 12 March 2024-Delhi Environment Minister Shri Gopal Rai gave an account of the flourishing green cover in Delhi and shared the government’s plantation goal for the financial year 2024-2025. The environment minister on Tuesday stated that Delhi has the largest green cover across the nation. Under the leadership of Delhi Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal, the green cover in Delhi has increased from 20% in 2013 to 23.6% in 2021. The minister held a meeting with the representatives of 21 agencies to chart out the plantation action plan for 2024-25.
Shri Gopal Rai said that the Delhi government has been making sustained efforts to bring down the pollution levels in Delhi. These dedicated efforts of the Delhi government have resulted in positive outcomes, with significant decline in the pollution levels every year, on an average.
“The plantation drive in Delhi has been extremely helpful in achieving our goal of reducing the pollution levels in Delhi. We have been making conscious efforts by planting more trees to increase the green cover in Delhi. The green cover in Delhi registered a significant growth rate and rose from 20% in 2013 to 23.6% in 2021, solely because of the constant efforts of the government and support from various departments.”
Shri Gopal Rai added that the Chief Minister has fulfilled all the promises he made during the last elections. One of the 10 promises that the CM made was about the plantation of two crore saplings and trees in Delhi within the next five years. “We are happy to announce that we have been able to achieve that target within four years. We have already planted 2 crore and 5 lakh trees in Delhi in the last four years. Last year, we had announced 52 lakh trees will be planted in Delhi in 2023. We have not only achieved that, the NDMC has planted an additional 35 lakh shrubs throughout New Delhi,” he said.
The environment minister announced that the government has set another goal of planting 63 lakh plants in the upcoming fiscal year, 2024-2025, with the help of 21 departments of Delhi. This goal is in addition to our 5-year plan of planting 2 crore plants in Delhi. Different departments have been given their plantation targets for the next year.
“We have set different targets for these 21 departments working in Delhi. These targets are: The Forest Department will plant 20.06 lakh trees; DDA 10.03 lakh trees; MCD 6.19 lakh trees; NDMC 6.02 lakh trees; PWD 3.90 lakh trees; Education Department 3.24 lakh trees; Higher Education Department 1.18 lakh trees; NTPC 1.18 lakh trees; DSIIDC 70,900; Delhi Jal Board 37,500; BSES 35,400; CPWD 31,200; Railways 23,600; DUSIB 14,700; Delhi Cantonment 11,900; NDPL 11,800; NHAI 70,000; DMRC 3,000; Irrigation and Flood Control Department 40,000; Environment Department 1,700; and DTC will plant 1,500 trees. These 21 agencies will together help us in achieving the goal of planting 63 lakh trees in Delhi in the year 2024-2025.”
The environment minister added how these departments have also been directed to conduct audits through third-party surveys to examine the survival rate and the actual condition of the trees and saplings that have been planted in the last 4 years. Since the Model Code of Conduct for the upcoming Lok Sabha election is going to come into force soon, these departments have been instructed to prepare their reports to ensure that the plantation drive for the next year gets started as soon as the monsoon season arrives.