Apart from announcing subsidy for power consumers, the Budget also focuses on tapping solar energy and improving the transmission and distribution network in the city.
“Under Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Management Programme, Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) plants of 335 kwp (kilowatt peak) have been commissioned at eight locations. A 100 kwp SPV plant at Vikas Bhawan–II has also been commissioned. Further, 130 kwp SPV plant at ISBT Kashmere Gate is under installation. SPV plants of 10 kwp at Delhi Secretariat and 25 kwp at four Government hospitals and 10 kwp SPV plant at four Government schools will be taken up in the current year,” Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in his Budget speech.
The State Government is also developing the New Delhi Municipal Council area as a “solar city” under the scheme of Development of Solar Cities of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
To improve the transmission and distribution network, Delhi Transco Limited will commission a new 400 KV sub-station at Harsh Vihar and 220 KV GIS (Gas Insulated Switch gear) sub-station at Peera Garhi. The Budget also proposed to take up the construction of three new 220 KV GIS sub-stations at Pappankalan, Tughlakabad and Rajghat Power House in the current financial year.
Several areas in Delhi have witnessed regular power cuts due to poor distribution network this year even as the demand touched new peaks due to the long spell of heat wave conditions prevailing in the city. Transmission network also got hit due to thunderstorm during the last week of May.
The Finance Minister also laid emphasis on making the 1500 MW Gas Turbine Station commissioned at Bawana functional to its full capacity.
