Centre grants Rs 15 crore for SPV power units in Meghalaya

SHILLONG: The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has sanctioned Rs 15.26 crore for installing SPV (Solar Photovoltaic) power units in several government buildings in the state, Meghalaya Power Minister Zenith Sangma told the assembly today.

The Ministry has accorded sanction last month under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission which aimed at development through deployment of solar energy technologies in the country to achieve parity with grid power tariff by 2022.

The buildings included Meghalaya Assembly, state secretariat and offices of seven district deputy commissioners, he said.

The minister said that 137 out of 158 remote villages had been electrified by SPV home lighting system with integration of SPV street lighting system and SPV power packs.

According to the minister 106 un-electrified villages in 11 districts were proposed to be taken up within this financial year under this program.

The state electricity regulatory commission had approved purchase of 2222 million units of power for 2013-14 from state-owned Meghalaya Power Generation Corporation Ltd and outside sources, he said.