‘UP is saving electricity worth ₹1363 cr annually’

LUCKNOW : Minister for energy and additional sources of energy Shrikant Sharma on Monday said that Uttar Pradesh was saving 3407 million units (MUs) electricity worth ₹1363 crore annually with the help of energy saving measures including distribution and promotion of LED bulbs.

“As many as 62 lakh LED bulbs have been distributed under the Ujala scheme so far reducing the peak demand by 682 MW and cutting down 2.76 MT carbon emissions,” he said while speaking during a programme held here by the NEDA to celebrate the ‘Energy Conservation Day’. He said the government had a plan to replace 12 lakh private tube wells with energy-efficient and this he claimed would save power worth ₹400 crore every year.

“We have also decided to develop Ayodhya, Mathura, Varanasi, Prayagraj and Gorakhpur as solar cities in a phased manner by 2024 with the help ₹473 crore grant by the Centre and ₹859 crore grant by the state government,” he said. “These cities together will produce 669 MW solar power,” he added.

The minister said the government was taking a lot of steps to increase the target of producing 15% of the total power from solar against the current 6%. He said future belonged to renewable energy and appealed to people to be a part of environment conservation drive.

On the occasion, the minister also inaugurated 400 KV rooftop solar plants installed at NEDA building and launched ‘UP saves energy’ website and mobile app apart from announcing prizes for winners who participate in various events that were held to mark the day.