Ranchi: Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Hemant Soren the Solar Energy Policy 2022 is being implemented with the sole aim of making a transition towards clean energy. Under this policy, the generation of 4000 MW of solar energy is scheduled from the financial year 2022-2023 to 2026-27.
A detailed and well-delineated policy has been rolled out in the pursuit of the development of solar energy in the state through several schemes like Solar Park, Canal Top Solar, Floating Solar, etc. In a very integrated manner, the government has set a target of installing about 4000 MW of solar power in the state in the next 5 years.
Under the ambit of this policy a target of installation of about 3000 MW on utility-scale, 720 MW under the distributed solar and 280 MW under off-grid solar plants has been fixed. With the advent of the new policy, provisions have been made to encourage private investors by conceptualizing a single-window system, payment security mechanisms, and land arrangements through land banks.
Under the policy steps such as a dedicated solar power cell, statutory approval within a maximum of 60 days, setting up of 1000 solar villages, schemes to encourage economically backward villagers, and cross-subsidy will be implemented to encourage the adoption of solar energy. Further, a proposal has been made for exemption from a third party and captive use, indexation up to 25 years at the rate of 1 percent and for exemption in the electricity bill.
The policy also guarantees 100 percent exemption of State Goods and Services Tax for the next 5 years. Constitution of two high-level committees will be done for the monitoring of the work to be done as per the set targets. Under the instructions of the Chief Minister, a milestone step is being taken to provide alternative means of irrigation to ease the issues faced by the farmers of the state.
A web portal will be inaugurated under the Kisan Solar Water Pumpset Scheme which will simplify the process of distribution and installation of solar pumps for farmers. The portal will also aid in providing for the maintenance of the pumps for the next 5 years. These processes will be made transparent through efficient and regular data collection, analysis and online monitoring. Further, the farmers will be able to track the status of their online application for the solar pump sets.