The government has installed 89 small hydro units to contribute in solution of problem faced by people.
The Himachal government has launched a comprehensive programme to solve the power problem in rural areas. While Hydel power generation have been of help in remote areas but the use of solar power has been encouraged in other parts of the state.
After the constitution of Himurja in the state, the department has installed 89 small hydro units of 331.25 MW. These small hydro units are contributing significantly in solving power problems faced by people.
Small hydro units of 82.7 MW in Chamba district, 10.50 MW in Mandi district, 98.65 MW in Kangra district, 25.9 MW in Kinnaur district, 60 MW in Kullu district, 39 MW in Shimla district and 12 MW in Sirmaur district have been installed as said by the officials.
They said that Himurja has installed 41 advanced gharats (grinder), 878 advanced chulhas and 17 wind solar hybrid systems at various places in the state. Besides, 1,64,803 street lights, 69,935 lanterns, 27,713 domestic lights, off grid solar power plant of 3,152.45 KW, grid connected solar rooftop power plant of 14,425.54 KW and 20,24,000 solar water heating systems have been made available to the public by Himurja.
To ensure stable electricity supply, the government has set one kilowatt of grid solar plants in 34 houses of Kunnu village and 40 houses of Charang Village at free of cost. Along with 250 watt off-grid panels at houses of 1000 BPL families in Pangi sub-division of Chamba district to prevent problems due to breakdown.
Pangi resident Ashwini Kumar said the area is covered with snow for about five-six months, due to which people face electricity problems. With the state government setting up solar power plants through Himurja, electricity problems have been resolved, he said. The state government has made a provision of ₹ 3.83 crore in the budget to set up off-grid solar power plants at Pangi area of Chamba for people living below poverty line.
Grid connected solar plants have been set up in Shimla on the roofs of about 66 government offices in the city, which resulted in reduced electricity bills. Apart from this, a grid connected projects of 23.25 MW have been set up on the ground, which has provided employment to youth of Himachal.