The AAP government took a step towards fulfilling a significant election promise made by the party, on Monday.
At the conclusion of a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, it approved the solar policy, which aims at making the Capital “an environment-friendly solar city.”
The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal,
The policy recommends the installation of 1 GW (1,000 Mega Watts) solar power capacity in Delhi by 2020, which is proposed to be doubled to 2 GW during the next five years.
“The policy outlines a combination of regulations, mandates, incentives, and tax breaks for the growth of rooftop solar power in the Capital and has been prepared by the Delhi government in consultation with the Dialogue and Development Commission after extensive consultations with local and international experts,” said a government statement.
“Making Delhi a Solar City is one of our 70-point agendas. This policy, which is very progressive will help in providing clean and green energy,” said Mr. Kejriwal.
The Chief Minister added that rooftop solar systems offered sustainable energy, environmental benefits, low gestation period and minimum transmission and distribution losses.
Delhi’s Minister of Power Satyendar Jain said that solar power is the most viable form of green energy in Delhi and had the potential of lowering the State’s expenditure on energy through peak shaving, strengthening energy security, and reducing its reliance on unsustainable fossil fuels.
“It will also reduce the burden on the existing transmission and distribution system, hence less expenditure will be required on their maintenance. The policy supports all models of ownership and maintenance of solar power plants, including self-owned (CAPEX) and third-party-owned models (RESCO),” the statement added.
“This policy, which is very progressive, will help in providing clean and green energy,” said Kejriwal
