Bharuch/Surat: Gujarat plans to generate 30,000 megawatt of renewable energy by 2022 and hence the state government is coming up with several reforms and initiatives in the renewable energy sector, energy minister Saurabh Patel said.
The central government aims at generating 1.75 lakh megawatt of renewable energy, Patel said at national management convention organized by Bharuch District Management Association on Friday. Under the state government’s solar rooftop policy, about two lakh houses will have solar power by March 2020 and their number would be eight lakhs by 2022. The recent policy for MSME sector will benefit entrepreneurs, the minister said.
Despite criticism, we took the decision to close down two government-owned thermal power plants as their operational cost was very high. The gas-based power plants of around 4,000 megawatts are facing a serious crisis, Patel said.
On water front, he said Gujarat was the only state to have an efficient water management system. Many far-flung villages are getting tap water today thanks to Sardar Sarovar Dam. The proposed Bhadbhut barrage, which will be built at a cost of Rs4,500 crore, will solve the problems of water salinity and scarcity in Bharuch, Patel added.
H K Agarwal, chief operating officer of Grasim Industries Limited, said, “Infrastructure improvement is an important aspect for sustainable growth of industries. Despite Bharuch being a mega industrial cluster, Bharuch city is not a preferred choice to live for many people who come here for employment.”
Resource management for sustainable growth is very important, said Jinesh Shah, director, Torrent Group.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes
