The Minister of Power Mr. Piyush Goyal announced in the upper House of Parliament that Rs.670 million (~$9.88 million) has been approved to develop solar cities across India. Under this program, Rs.241.6 million (~$3.56 million) has already been released.

According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE): “The Solar City Program aims to consolidate all the efforts of the Ministry in the urban sector and address the energy problem of the urban areas in a holistic manner.”

“The Solar City aims at a minimum 10 percent reduction in projected demand of conventional energy at the end of five years, through a combination of enhancing supply from renewable energy sources in the city and energy efficiency measures. A total of 60 cities/towns are proposed to be supported for development as Solar Cities and at least one city in each State up to a maximum of five cities in a State may be supported by the Ministry”, added MNRE.

State wise, seven cities have been chosen in Maharashtra, making it the state with the largest number of proposed solar cities. A total of Rs.77.4 million (~$1.14 million) has been approved for these cities, of which Rs.30.4 million (~$0.45 million) has been released for six of the seven cities, the minister added.

Another Rs.251.6 million (~$3.7 million) has been allotted to Chandigarh, the highest amount sanctioned under the program so far. Of this, funds worth Rs.81.1 million (~$1.19 million) have already been released.

The national capital region, including New Delhi, Gurugram and Faridabad, have made the list of proposed solar cities. However, Noida has been left out.

In Uttar Pradesh, the cities of Agra, Moradabad and Allahabad were chosen to be developed as solar cities.

Meanwhile, in the southern state of Karnataka, Rs.24.5 million (~$0.36 million) has been released for preparation of master plans, solar city cells, promotional activities and installation of renewable energy projects under the Solar City Program in Mysuru and Hubballi-Dharwad.

Details on state-wise funds approved and released to Solar Cities are available on http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=153948

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