Power deficit is at a record low of 3.6%: Power Minister Piyush Goyal
He further said that the government is working towards providing electricity to rural areas. Micro grid and off-grid solutions are being worked out to provide power to 28 crore people in rural India who are still without electricty, Goyal said.
Energy Minister Piyush Goyal has said that India's power deficit has fallen to a record low of 3.6%. The minister was highlighting the achievements of the new NDA-government under the prime ministership of Narendra Modi that completed one year in office on May 26.
Goyal, while outlining the feats, said that the government will open more than 60 coal mines across the country with an aim to take coal production from Coal India to over 100 million tonne in the next five years.
He further said that the government is working towards providing electricity to rural areas. Micro grid and off-grid solutions are being worked out to provide power to 28 crore people in rural India who are still without electricty, Goyal said.
Stressing on the need for solar power, the minister said that many companies in the private sector have committed to produce 273 GW of solar power. Railways too are going to use solar power, he said.
17 solar parks installation has been already approved, the minister said, adding, "15,577 MW of solar power generation capacity is to be achieved.”
He also said that 40,000 MW rooftop solar energy will be set up which will give employment to around 50,000 educated unemployed youth. He said, “It will help lakhs of people through indirect employment.”
There has been a 27% increase in the capacity addition in the power generation sector from last year, he said.