Jharkhand aims to achieve a capacity of 4000 MW of solar power in the next five years and is open to attracting investors in the space with lucrative offers, Chief Minister Hemant Soren said on Tuesday.
Soren launched the Solar Energy Policy 2022 on Tuesday and laid the foundation stone in the virtual mode for 600 KW capacity solar plant at Dhanbad and Dumka airports and a grid connected rooftop power plant for domestic consumers under the Giridih Solar City Scheme.
Jharkhand has potential for solar energy as it has around 300 days of clear sun with high solar insolation.
The new policy also aims to encourage private investors by conceptualising 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.
The policy also seeks to create jobs, growth opportunities and sustainability in Jharkhand, which currently generates less than 45 MW 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 per cent and exemption in the electricity bill. The policy also guarantees 100 per cent exemption of State Goods and Services Tax for the next five years.
Jharkhand government will also constitute two high-level committees for the monitoring of the work as per the set targets.
Jharkhand had notified its first Solar Power Policy in August 2015 with a target to generate 2,650 MW of solar energy by 2020. It also launched Jharkhand Solar Rooftop Policy, 2018′ to promote rooftop solar installations.
All statutory clearances and approvals will be provided to the solar power project developers through this single window facility in a time-bound manner within 60 days.
Jharkhand ranks fifth in the country in installing solar pump sets, as per the government that has set an ambitious target of installing 10,000 solar pump sets in the second phase.