As coal crisis looms large, Joshi’s Jaipur visit ignites hope for State

Jaipur: Rajasthan Vidyut Utpadan Nigam is now going to take steps towards promotion of renewable energy. A big MoU will be signed between Coal IndiaRVUNL regarding the Solar Park here on Thursday in the presence of Coal Minister Prahlad Joshi and CM Ashok Gehlot. Actually, the Gehlot government has given the responsibility of developing 2000 MW solar park to Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam, a government undertaking, in order to save coal and reduce pollution in thermal power plants and to promote solar energy. For this, 4846 hectares of land has been allotted in Poogal, Bikaner, where 810 MW capacity solar project will be set up by Self Generation Corporation and 1190 MW capacity solar project will be set up by Coal India Limited. Principal Energy Secretary Bhaskar A. Sawant himself is monitoring this project. During the event, important discussions are possible regarding the coal shortage of Rajasthan as there are problems due to nonstarting of mining from PEKB coal mines. The State’s power stations are not getting enough coal as per their requirement. However, some coal is available through bridge linkage, but it has quality problems. In such a situation, the focus will be on increasing the supply from NCL, SECL and MCL only