Agra: Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) on Monday started work to illuminate 30 gram panchayats with solar streetlights. In first phase, 255 streetlights will be installed under Deen Dayal Upadhyay Solar Light (DDUSL) Scheme.
UPNEDA senior project officer Bharat Bhushan said, “Gram panchayats that have witnessed town-like commercial development have been selected under the scheme. In the first phase of the scheme, 30 villages, two from each of the 15 development blocks, in the district have been selected for installation of solar streetlights.”
The officer said, “On the basis of recommendations of the district administration, 255 points have been identified for installation of solar streetlights. These are mostly located in main markets. Each solar streetlight will cost Rs 21,580. The first phase of installation in the district will cost Rs 55,02,900. The state government will fund the project and no amount will be taken from gram panchayats.”
Under the scheme, the initial target is to install 14,500 solar lights in all 75 districts in the state, for which the government has made a provision of Rs 30 crore.
Principal secretary of the state government, Alok Kumar in a directive issued last year had said that each development block in a district should have a solar module installation at one or two main marketplaces under the DDUSL scheme.
According to directive, all purchases under the scheme will be made through e-tendering. The private firm contacted by UPNEDA for the installation work will also have to offer a comprehensive warranty of five years. For this, the concerned company will have to operate a service centre at the district level. After the installation, UPNEDA will hand over the responsibility of these lights to the gram panchayat or block development committee concerned.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes
