Paid Obeisance at Sri Darbar Sahib today. Discussed with SGPC officials about face lifting the Information Centre at Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar and to equip it with latest audio-visual techniques and gadgets to display the heritage in an impressive way. The beautification work in the plaza at Sri Darbar Sahib would be completed by Baisakhi. The work on beautification of way from Town Hall to Sri Darbar Sahib would be commenced soon to give this holy city a new look. Development works worth Rs 1500 crore have been initiated in the city during last 4 years and in coming 6 months development works of more than 1000 Cr would be initiated

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal inaugurates solar power plant

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday inaugurated a pollution free solar power project here which will generate 34 mw power and cater to the power needs of more than 250 villages comprising one lakh households.

Inaugurating the project, he said that by the end of this year, Punjab will be able to generate 250 mw power from solar projects. He said by the end of December next year Punjab will achieve solar generation capacity of 2000 mw power.

The government is contemplating to install solar panels on the rooftops of tubewells and residential complexes, he said. He said once the solar panels were installed on tube well rooftops the farmers of the state could get uninterrupted and pollution free power.

This policy would not only reduce the power expenditure of consumers but also become a source of income since the farmers would be able to sell their surplus power to the grid, Badal said.

He said for this purpose the state government had formulated and approved a Net Metering Policy and people should come forward to generate requisite power through solar projects.

It had already been decided to put waterlogged area in the priority list for installation of solar projects, the Deputy CM said. He said infertile land of villages and non-used panchayats land would be identified in waterlogged areas to initiate these projects.

Punjab gets Rs 4,000 crore investment for solar projects: Sukhbir Singh Badal

The keenness of farmers in solar power could be gauged from the fact that the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has recently got an expression of interest for 1,200 MW as against the initial estimate of 500 MW.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday said the state has received over Rs 4,000 crore of investment to set up 500 MW of solar projects, claiming that the state is "the most preferred destination" in the non-conventional energy sector.
Speaking at Kolianwali after laying the foundation stones for various development and irrigation projects in Lambi constituency, the Deputy CM said the investment has come mainly from major foreign players in Singapore, the US and France.
He exhorted farmers to be a partner under the incentive-oriented Net Metering policy as it's "specially designed keeping in mind farmers' interests".
The keenness of farmers in solar power could be gauged from the fact that the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has recently got an expression of interest for 1,200 MW as against the initial estimate of 500 MW.
The state farmers, he claimed, are now getting remunerative lease rates for solar projects.
The Punjab government has sanctioned Rs 10,000 crore for basic amenities in 150 small towns and villages, of which Rs 4,000 crore will be spent on water supply and concrete streets.
Describing the Congress and the AAP as "spent forces" in Punjab, Badal took on Congress leader Captain Amarinder Singh, saying "he never bothered to raise his voice for issues pertaining to Punjab".
On uniform VAT rate on diesel in northern states, Badal said it was aimed at eliminating smuggling of oil and the decision was "unanimous".
VAT on petrol will be brought to the same level in coming days as the dialogue is on, he added.
Earlier, addressing a gathering at Fullu Khera, Badal said the state government will come out with a Health Card for the poor which would entitle them to free treatment of up to Rs 30,000.