Varanasi: UP energy minister A K Sharma held a meeting here on Saturday with empanelled suppliers and related departments to review the PM's Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme, aimed at accelerating installation of 75,000 solar plants in the city.
Separate discussions were held with suppliers regarding routine difficulties and progress in rooftop plant installations. The achievements of authorised suppliers (empanelled vendors) were reviewed against the set targets. UPEDA director, Anupam Shukla, presented the progress of the PM Surya Ghar Varanasi Free Electricity Scheme, identifying upcoming issues and necessary steps to achieve the targets.
The minister directed officials for installation of 10,000 domestic solar plants in Varanasi by Dec end. The senior project officer of UPEDA was instructed to place hoardings and banners at major intersections in Varanasi for necessary promotion of the scheme.
He said a letter regarding renewal of applications updated on the national portal prior to the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme should be sent to the MNRE by UPEDA. A list of Surya Mitras should be obtained from the UPEDA Training Center, ITI, and district employment officer and made available to vendors.
The vendors should also be sent for training in programmes organised by the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NISEBUD) and the Skill Development Mission, with necessary assistance taken from the UPEDA headquarters.
A work plan should be created for installation of 10,000 solar plants in Varanasi by Dec.
A total of 10 officers, including six nodal officers from UPEDA Varanasi and four from the district administration, should be allocated 10 vendors per officer and each vendor should be given a target of installing 100 solar plants by Dec. To achieve this target, all nodal officers should ensure necessary installations are uploaded on the portal and a daily booklet should be prepared by UPEDA Varanasi. He added that the chief development officer should issue daily/weekly/monthly target orders to 10 nodal officers to achieve the target of installing 10,000 solar plants in Dec. A Google Sheet for reviewing officers should be prepared by UPEDA, with daily reviews conducted by the senior project officer in Varanasi. Every Sunday, the progress should be reviewed physically by the director/secretary of UPEDA.
The meeting was attended by district panchayat president Poonam Maurya, district magistrate S Rajalingam, chief development officer Himanshu Nagpal and officers from Purvanchal Electricity Distribution Corporation, UPEDA and nationalised banks, as well as UPEDA suppliers operating in Varanasi.