India reached non-fossil energy goal ahead of schedule: Modi

INDIA has reached its 2030 target of making 40 per cent of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil energy this year itself, prime minister Narendra Modi said on Monday (27) after inaugurating and laying the foundation of various hydropower projects in Mandi district of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh which goes to elections later this year.

“India had set a target in 2016 to meet 40 per cent of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil energy sources by 2030. Today every Indian will be proud that India has achieved this goal in November this year itself,” Modi said.

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“The whole world is praising India for accelerating its development while at the same time saving the environment. From solar power to hydropower, from wind power to green hydrogen, India is working continuously to make full use of every resource of renewable energy,” he added.

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Earlier, he inaugurated various hydropower projects worth Rs 11,000 crore.

The prime minister’s office said Modi laid the foundation stone of Renukaji Dam project, which was lying pending for around three decades.

Six states, namely, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Delhi were brought together by the Modi government for making the project possible,” reads the press release.

“The 40 MW project will be built at a cost of around Rs 7000 crore. It will prove to be immensely beneficial for Delhi, which will be able to receive around 500 million cubic metre water supply per year,” the official statement added.

Modi also laid the foundation stone of the Luhri Stage 1 Hydro Power Project. The 210 MW project will be built at a cost of over Rs 1,800 crore. It will lead to the generation of over 750 million units of electricity per year.

The prime minister also laid the foundation stone of Dhaulasidh hydro power project.

“This will be the first hydropower project of Hamirpur district. The 66 MW project will be built at a cost of over Rs 680 crore. It will lead to the generation of over 300 million units of electricity per year,” the release said.