Government Launches Scheme For 100% Solarisation Of Konark Sun Temple

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has taken up the Complete Solarisation of Konark sun temple and Konark town in Odisha.

The scheme has been launched to take forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to transform the historical Sun temple town of Konark in Odisha into ‘Surya Nagri‘.

The key objective is to convey a message of synergy between the modern use of solar energy and the ancient Sun Temple and the importance of promoting solar energy.

Speaking about the scheme, Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh said, “The Government of India launched the scheme with an objective to take forward Prime Minister (Narendra Modi)’s vision to develop the historical Sun temple town of Konark in Odisha as ‘Surya Nagri’, to convey a message of synergy between the modern use of solar energy and the ancient Sun Temple and the importance of promoting solar energy.”

Under the scheme, a 10 MW grid-connected solar project will be set up along with various solar off-grid applications such as off-grid solar power plants with battery storage, solar trees and solar drinking water kiosks with complete Central Financial Assistance (CFA) support of around Rs 25 crores through New & Renewable Energy Ministry.

The project will be implemented by the Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA).

The scheme is expected to meet all the energy requirements of Konark town with solar energy.

The Sun Temple in Konark is a 13th-century CE Sun temple situated about 35 km northeast from Puri on the coastline of Odisha, and is attributed to king Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty about 1250 CE.

Odisha is no stranger to efforts related to solar power. In 2015, it announced plans for a 1 gigawatt (GW) solar power plant. In 2016, Sonthalia Group unveiled plans for a 600 megawatt (MW) solar power plant, and the state announced plans for 70 MW of rooftop solar.

from League of India